Waywest Mechanical replaces residential and commercial water service lines — the water main running from the municipal meter or property line into the building — in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. Common reasons are leaks, low water pressure, and old galvanized, copper or Poly-B service lines. Licensed plumbers locate the line, excavate, and install new pipe.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Excavation: Waywest also handles the excavation, so digging, pipe work and backfill are one job with one quote and one point of contact.
When a water service line needs replacing
The water service line is usually buried below frost depth between the property line and the house, so it is out of sight until it causes a problem. Replacement is typically recommended when:
- It is leaking. Leaks on buried lines waste water, erode soil and can undermine driveways and foundations.
- Pressure has dropped. Old galvanized steel corrodes from the inside and gradually narrows.
- It is made of a material with a poor record. Some Poly-B was used for service lines, and older galvanized and thin-wall copper lines are reaching the end of their life.
- It has failed more than once. One repair on an old line tends to lead to another.
- The house is being renovated or expanded and needs more capacity than the old line can deliver.
Signs of a buried leak
- A wet or unusually green patch of lawn along the route of the line
- A water bill that rises without any change in usage
- The water meter's leak indicator turning with every fixture off
- Hissing or running water sounds from the entry point in a crawlspace or basement
- Low pressure throughout the house, not just at one fixture
If you are not sure whether the leak is in the service line or inside the house, leak detection will narrow it down before anyone starts digging.
How the work is done
- Locate the line and the shut-offs at the meter and the house, and call BC One Call to mark other buried utilities.
- Plan the route. Replacing along the old route is not always best — a straighter or shallower-obstacle route can save time and landscaping.
- Excavate. We open the trench or access pits where needed.
- Install new pipe — typically polyethylene water service pipe rated for buried use — bedded properly and at a safe depth.
- Connect at the property-side connection and at the house, including a new main shut-off valve inside where appropriate.
- Pressure test, flush the line, and backfill.
We coordinate with the municipality where their involvement is required at the meter.
Why depth and bedding matter
A water line buried too shallow can freeze during an Island cold snap, and one laid on rock without proper bedding can wear through where it rubs. Much of Nanaimo sits on shallow rock and glacial till, which is exactly where careless installs fail early. We bed the pipe in sand or suitable fill and keep it to the depth the conditions call for.
Replacing the house piping at the same time
If the service line is being replaced because of its age, the piping inside the house is often the same age. It can be efficient to plan both together — see repiping and Poly-B replacement.
Service area
Water main and service line replacement is available in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Ladysmith, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Duncan and across Waywest's Vancouver Island service area.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
Who is responsible for the water line to my house in Nanaimo?
In general, the municipality is responsible for the water main and the service connection up to the meter or property line, and the homeowner is responsible for the pipe from there into the house. Exact boundaries vary by municipality and property, so Waywest confirms where the meter and shut-off are before quoting.
What are signs my water service line is failing?
A water bill that rises without explanation, a soft or wet patch in the yard that does not dry out, the sound of running water when everything is off, a meter that moves with all taps closed, and water pressure that has dropped over time.
How long does water line replacement take?
A typical residential service line replacement is completed in one to two days, depending on length, depth, obstacles like driveways and trees, and whether the line can be pulled or bored rather than trenched. Water is usually off only for part of that time.
Does replacing a water line mean digging up the yard?
Most water service replacements need a trench or access pits to reach the old line and install the new one. How much digging is needed depends on the line length, soil, rock and what is in the way, such as driveways and landscaping. Waywest assesses this on site and does the excavation as part of the job.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.