Water Service FAQ’s
No, the curb stop at your front property line belongs to the Queensbury Water Department. No one else is authorized to turn on or off your water connection. If you have an emergency call 518-793-8866 to request that someone come to your home to turn the water off.
It is your responsibility to install the copper water service on your property from the property line into your home. You may hire a contractor or do the work yourself. Call 811 before you dig or go to call811.com. The service must be type “K” copper and be a minimum of 5 feet deep. The work must be inspected by us prior to backfilling. Our hours for inspections are Monday – Friday, 7:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. Please call 518-793-8866 to request an inspection.
Typical Water Service – Inside
You may apply for a new water service by completing a water tap application at our offices at 823 Corinth Road, Monday – Friday from 8:00a.m. – 4:30p.m. The Water Department starts making taps April 1 – November 1, weather permitting. Due to scheduling and time constraints, there is no guarantee prior to the month of June. The smaller service application is a one page four-part form. The application is available at the Water Department Administration Building. An application for water service greater than 2 inches in diameter is one page. The large service application is available online and at the Administration Building.
All water must be metered. Backflow protection must be installed on the waterline that supplies your lawn irrigation system. You must install one of the following: an atmospheric-type vacuum breaker, a pressure-type vacuum breaker, or a reduced pressure zone device (RPZ). This will protect both your health and safety as well as your neighbor’s from any cross connection.
Typically water meters are installed within 12 inches of the main interior shut off valve. Usually where the copper service line enters the basement or crawl space. If the home is built on a concrete slab, then the water meters are located in utility closets or laundry rooms. If the home is a mobile home (single or double wide), then the water meters are located underneath the home behind the skirting or in a meter pit. Sometimes in an abandoned well house. Water meters are usually located in the mechanical room of a commercial establishment.
In order to maintain the water meters and accessories, the Water Meter Service Workers need access to the actual meter whether it’s located inside, underneath the mobile home, in a meter pit, in an abandoned well house or a utility room/mechanical room.
In some cases, water services are installed by the developer at the time the water main was installed. In these instances, you must only pay a meter fee. The fee is based on the size of the water meter according to the following table:
Size |
Meter Only |
¾” | $475.00 |
1” | $900.00 |
1 ½” | $1000.00 |
2” | $1,200.00 |
The tapping fee for a new water service is based on the table below. This fee includes the cost of the tap, copper line from the water main to the property line and the water meter. Customers are responsible for the installation of the water service from the property line into their home, a shut-off (ball) valve, a pressure reducing valve (if necessary), as well as any plumbing changes that may be necessary to install the water meter.
Size |
Fee with Meter |
Meter Only |
¾” Short | $2.150.00 | $475.00 |
¾” Long | $2,750.00 | $475.00 |
¾” Open Cut Long | $4,000.00 | $475.00 |
1” Short | $2,700.00 | $900.00 |
1” Long | $3,300.00 | $900.00 |
1” Open Cut Long | $4,500.00 | $900.00 |
1 ½” Short | $3,250.00 | $1,000.00 |
1 ½” Long | $4,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
1 ½” Open Cut Long | $5,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
2” Short | $4,250.00 | $1,200.00 |
2″ Long | $5,000.00 | $1,200.00 |
2” Open Cut Long | $6,000.00 | $1,200.00 |
The cost for a water meter and installation is included in your water tapping fee. Any upgrade to a radio read style of an existing water meter size is at the Water Department’s expense unless you have damaged the meter or allowed it to freeze and break. If you have damaged the meter, it will be replaced and you will be billed for a replacement.
You will need to bring with you the following information: owner’s name and mailing address, contractor’s name and address, phone number, location of service, nearest intersections, and tax map number. Tax map numbers typically can be found on property deed information or building permits.
In some Queensbury Wastewater Districts, you are billed for sewer service based on your water meter readings. Unless you have arranged to have a dedicated sewer meter installed you will be billed quarterly based on all water consumption, including water that you use to irrigate your lawn. You may arrange to have us install a special meter, in addition to your existing water meter, that will be used only for sewer billing purposes (i.e. consumption within your home). This meter is installed by us at your expense. Please call 518-745- 5589, Monday – Friday, between 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. with questions or to arrange for a pre-plumbing inspection for a dedicated meter.
In the Queensbury Water District all water use must be metered. Since 1999, the town has been installing water meters with a radio read device. This allows us to directly read the meter from the street. To upgrade the water meter to a radio read device there is no charge to the property owner. The water meter is connected to a transmitter that we supply. The transmitter is mounted to the register of the meter. Please call 518-745-5582, Monday – Friday, between 8:00A.M. – 4:30 P.M. to arrange for the installation of a radio read meter.
Radio Read Device
You must have a water shut-off valve immediately after the water service enters your home. This valve is your protection in the event you must shut off the water in an emergency. Any new or replacement shut-off valve must be a ball valve.
In some areas of the Town of Queensbury the pressure in the water mains may exceed 130 psi. The New York State plumbing code requires a pressure reducing valve in any situation in excess of 80 psi. This pressure reducer will protect your plumbing as well as our water meter. If you have a question whether your area needs a pressure reducing valve, please call 518-745-5582, Monday – Friday, between 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. See exceptions
How long will a Water Pressure Reducing Valve last?
The life expectancy of a water pressure regulator is most commonly in the range of 10 to 15 years. However, you may see a regulator malfunction at three years and one still properly functioning at 20 years.
A failed Pressure Reducing Valve should be replaced with a high quality pressure reducing valve valve such as a Watts.
How do I know if my pressure-reducing valve is bad?
- Diminishing or fluctuating water pressure…
- No water pressure
- Thumping, banging, hammering, or vibrating noises in the walls…
- High water pressure, water leaking from faucet, toilet running constantly…
How do I check my pressure coming into the house?
The most accurate method is to buy a pressure gauge from your local hardware store and hook it up to a hose faucet/bib. Check the pressure when all other faucets and water-using appliances are turned off to get a baseline reading. In general, you want the household plumbing to provide pressure not greater than 80 psi.