The city’s water comes from upstate reservoirs in the Catskill, Delaware and Croton systems and is notably soft, so scale is less of a problem than in many U.S. cities. The bigger risks are water that has nowhere to go: much of the city is served by combined sewers, and intense rainstorms like the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021 have flooded basements and below-grade apartments.
Housing & construction
Dense mix of pre-war walk-ups, brownstones, row houses in Brooklyn and Queens, detached homes on Staten Island and in eastern Queens, and high-rise co-ops and condos.
Plumbing services in New York City
Sewer Line Repair in New York City
Repairs under the street
New York City sewer line repair →
Water Line Repair in New York City
Lead service line inventory
New York City water line repair →
Drain Cleaning in New York City
Shared stacks in multi-family buildings
New York City drain cleaning →
Emergency Plumbing in New York City
Shutoffs in shared buildings
New York City emergency plumbing →Also common in New York City: pipe repair.
Common plumbing problems in New York City
What makes New York City plumbing different
Owner-responsible service lines and sewers
Repairs to the private water service and sewer connection out to the main are typically the property owner’s responsibility, including the portion under the sidewalk and street, which requires permits and excavation.
Licensed plumbing work
Most plumbing work in New York City must be performed by or under a New York City licensed master plumber, and many jobs require Department of Buildings filings.
Combined sewers and flash flooding
During cloudbursts, combined sewers can surcharge and push water back into basements; backwater valves and keeping below-grade drains maintained matter.
Old cast iron stacks
Cast iron drain and vent stacks in pre-war buildings crack, scale and leak at joints, especially in multi-family buildings where one stack serves several units.
Seasonal plumbing calendar for New York City
- Summer cloudburstsShort, intense storms overwhelm sewers. Keep basement floor drains clear and consider a backwater valve.
- Winter cold snapsPipes in exterior walls, unheated vestibules and garages freeze; brownstone rear extensions are common trouble spots.
- SpringCheck sump pits and exterior drains after snowmelt and before storm season.
Plumbing emergency in New York City?
- Close the main water shutoff, or the fixture valve if the problem is in one place.
- Stay away from water near outlets or the electrical panel.
- For sewage backups, stop using all drains.
- If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
New York City plumbing questions
Who pays to fix a broken sewer line in New York City?
Property owners are generally responsible for the house sewer from the building to the city main, including the part under the street. Repairs require permits and often street excavation.
Is New York City tap water hard?
No. New York City’s upstate reservoir water is soft, so mineral scale is less of a problem than in most large U.S. cities.
Does New York City still have lead service lines?
Some older one- to four-family homes still have lead service lines. The city’s Department of Environmental Protection maintains a service line inventory you can check by address.
Why did my basement flood during a heavy storm?
Much of the city uses combined sewers. When intense rain fills them, water can back up through basement drains. A backwater valve and clear exterior drains reduce the risk.
Do I need a licensed plumber in New York City?
Most plumbing work in NYC must be done by or under a licensed master plumber, and many jobs require permits filed with the Department of Buildings.
Nearby service areas
We also serve communities around New York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan, Yonkers, Jersey City.
