Water main replacement cost in Brooklyn and Queens are determined by only a few basic factors. For a number of years now the medium price of a Queens water main replacement and Brooklyn water main replacement is between $2,000.00 and $3,500.00. The medium price is a rough average of all water main replacement work by all companies. Many jobs will cost less than that and some jobs more than that. But that is a safe price range to expect to pay. The basic issues that will make a water line replacement cost be higher or lower than that range are as follows:
What side of the street is the NYC water main on?
'Short' Water Main
'Long' Water Main
Typically there are fire hydrants located on each block and only one side of the street in queens and Brooklyn. The city water main is usually located 8′ out from the curb line on the side of the street where the hydrant is located. If your house is on the same side of the street as the fire hydrant it is referred to as a ‘short’ water main. If your house is across the street from the hydrant it is referred to as a ‘long’ water main. A typical price difference for a ‘short’ or ‘long’ water main replacement is between $500.00 and $1,000.000.
Has the roadway been paved within the last five years?
Balkan Paving A NYC 'Protected' Street
If the roadway fronting your house has been resurfaced or reconstructed within the past five years it is considered a ‘protected street’ – it is still under a five year guaranteed period. If the roadway is considered ‘protected’ it will typically add anywhere from $350.00 to $1,000.00 onto the price of the water line replacement. This is due to added NYC DOT permit fees, roadway backfill, and restoration requirements. You can check on your streets status by using this link: NYC DOT Protected Street listing.
What  size main water line will you need?
Copper Water Main Tubing
A rule of thumb for sizing a water line replacement is that a typical one family house will required a 1″ water service. A two family house an 1 1/4″ water service and a three family house an 1 1/2″ water service. There is a sizing table that water main contractors refer to for accurate sizing for a water main replacement. Material costs for a Brooklyn or Queens water main replacement do not comprise a major part of the cost. The size of the service line will typically affect the price by between $100.00 and $400.00.
Are there other factors?
Proper traffic control by Joseph L. Balkan Inc.
Balkan flagman controlling traffic
Traffic control is required when traffic must be diverted from one travel lane into another travel lane. If required this will add to the cost. Cement work that exceeds a small patch of cement will typically have to be restored on another work day. Depending on the extent of the cement work this will add to the cost.
Any Brooklyn water main replacement or Queens water main replacement work should safely fall into the above budget guidelines. Any deviation in price should be explained by the water main contractor to your complete satisfaction. Joseph L. Balkan Inc. routinely provides helpful information about sewer line and water main replacement work to the property owners of NYC. Balkan feels that the more information the consumer has at hand to make an informed decision the better.
For over 60 years Balkan is The trusted water main and sewer contractor in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx.
Joseph L. Balkan, Inc. | Sewer and Water Main Specialists
130-01 Jamaica Avenue Richmond Hill, NY 11418
Phone: (718) 849-0900 | Espanol (718) 943-5720 | Fax: (718) 849-9570
