Drbob7133 Member Username: Drbob7133
Post Number: 4 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 7:31 pm: | |
My office manager had pipe burst in her basement last friday the 23rd. after many phones calls the problem has not been taken care of. the people she has dealt with have been rude. is this how the city treats its taxpayers? |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 637 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 7:33 pm: | |
Pipes outside a building = DWSD's problem Pipes inside a basement = your problem |
Psip Member Username: Psip
Post Number: 1465 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 7:46 pm: | |
I think the line of demarcation is the water meter. (Message edited by PSIP on February 28, 2007) |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 638 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 7:51 pm: | |
True, PSIP, the short section of pipe on the street side of the water meter is the DWSD's. However, it's close proximity to the ground would make it the very last part of the plumbing system to freeze and burst. |
Tigers2005 Member Username: Tigers2005
Post Number: 105 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 9:10 pm: | |
Typically the city is only responsible to the property line, which is usually where the shutoff valve is. |
Psip Member Username: Psip
Post Number: 1468 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 9:19 pm: | |
Thats a good point Tigers2005. We need BrokenMain for a ruling on this. I am sure Gas lines end at the meter but again I could be wrong. |
48202 Member Username: 48202
Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:13 pm: | |
The week before last, on one of the sub-freezing days, my neighbor's water meter broke. Water was spraying out through it. Amazingly, she contacted the water department, and they fixed it the same day, within a few hours. |
Gildas Member Username: Gildas
Post Number: 935 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:31 pm: | |
Regardless, that is how the city treats its taxpayers. As the population continues to dwindle. |
Drbob7133 Member Username: Drbob7133
Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:47 pm: | |
i understand that its the owners responsibility if the fracture is within the house but they would like the water shut off outside so that the repairs can be made. |
Granmontrules Member Username: Granmontrules
Post Number: 25 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:47 pm: | |
Gildas- If the city isn't responsible for fixing it why should they? IF the problem is in the basement CALL A PLUMBER not the city. |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 640 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:03 pm: | |
quote:...but they would like the water shut off outside so that the repairs can be made. There are shut-off valves on either side of the meter. If both of those are broken (stuck in the open position), then the outside street valve must be used to shut off the water. Plumbers also carry a street valve key for whenever they have to replace broken meter valves (which are the owner's responsibility to replace). |
B24liberator Member Username: B24liberator
Post Number: 40 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:40 pm: | |
A check of the Detroit water and sewer web site (if it's a truly helpful site, that is ) should spell out where the city's responsibility ends and the property owner's begins... I gotta go with Tigers2005 on this, I don't live in Detroit now, but it's been my experience that most cities only are concerned with the street side of the outside shutoff-- All piping and valves past that are the individuals responsibility, except perhaps, the actual metering device itself-- But a pipe in the basement? Sounds like $75 an hour to me... |
B24liberator Member Username: B24liberator
Post Number: 41 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:51 pm: | |
This reminds me of my own recent troubles-- From the sewer side of the 'fence.' My sewer line collapsed (pray that you don't have 'Orangeburg' soil pipe, or you'll be in my boat, soon enough) just this past November, thankfully two (whew!) feet short of the property line-- Which made it my local water utilities concern. If this had been on my side of the 'fence' the cost would have been several thousand to dig up and replace all that crappy bituminous piping with some 4 inch PVC.. Again, I say WHEW! |