Texarkana, TX Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Sec. 42-5(d)
- Owner repairs
- meter-to-structure line
- City repairs
- main-to-meter only
- Lateral work requires
- licensed plumber (Sec. 42-5(f))
- Violation penalty
- fine up to $500
Summary
Texarkana's water and sewer system repairs and maintains lines only up to the meter; Sec. 42-5(d) puts the water line from the meter to a home or business, including any leak, on the property owner's own dime.
The property owner shall then be responsible for the proper maintenance, replacement or repair of the line from the cleanout or from the water meter to the structure it serves. All costs associated with the installation, maintenance and repair of the line between the cleanout and the structure or from the meter to the structure shall be borne by the property owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 42-5(e), the city's department of water utilities is responsible for lines from the water main to the meter. Everything past the meter, the lateral running to the structure, is the property owner's responsibility under Sec. 42-5(d): they must install, maintain, replace, and repair that line, including any leak, entirely at their own cost. Sec. 42-5(f) further requires that only a licensed plumber perform this work, and the private lateral must stay free of root intrusion, structural defects, and leaking joints.
Violations & Fines
Violating chapter 42's water and sewer connection/repair provisions is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 under Sec. 42-19; owners who don't fix a leak on their side of the meter also stay liable for the full metered water bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who fixes a water leak at my house in Texarkana?
Can I hire anyone to fix a leaking service line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Texarkana
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Texarkana to another location·View the Texas water use rules overview
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