Water-Line Repairs in Kirksville: Where City Maintenance Stops

Kirksville's published water-maintenance boundary is unusually clear.

The City says it maintains water mains, hydrants, valves and service lines up to the curb shut-off, including the curb-stop valve.

Its published maintenance responsibility does not extend beyond that point.

What is the curb stop?

The curb stop is the shut-off valve that separates the City-maintained portion of the service connection from the portion beyond the City's published maintenance boundary.

Its exact physical location can vary.

Do not assume it is literally beside the curb or in the same position on every property.

What does the City maintain?

The City's Utility Maintenance division currently lists responsibility for:

• water mains;
• fire hydrants;
• valves;
• service lines up to the curb shut-off;
• service-line repairs up to and including curb-stop valves.

That is the strongest general rule to use when a water service problem occurs.

What if the leak appears beyond the curb stop?

The City's public policy says it does not maintain the service line beyond the curb shut-off.

That means a leak beyond that point should not be assumed to be a City repair simply because it involves water service.

Before paying for excavation or repair, confirm where the actual failure is located.

A wet yard, low pressure or high bill does not by itself prove which side of the boundary has failed.

The water meter is a separate issue

The City owns and maintains its water meters.

That meter rule should not be confused with the service-line boundary.

A meter can be City-owned while piping beyond the curb stop remains outside the City's published maintenance responsibility.

What to do when you suspect a service-line leak

Start by contacting Public Works if the location of the failure is unclear or there is evidence of a public-system problem.

Kirksville Utility Maintenance provides water and sewer repair service 24 hours a day.

During normal office hours, Public Works can be reached at 660-627-1291.

After-hours emergency reporting uses the City's non-emergency dispatch number.

If the problem is determined to be beyond the curb stop, ask the City what current contractor, permit or excavation requirements apply before arranging private work.

A high bill is a separate billing question

A private-side leak may also create an unusually high bill.

The City has a separate leak-adjustment policy. See Why Is My Kirksville Water Bill So High?.

The useful first question is not "Who pays?"

It is "Where is the failure relative to the curb stop?"