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Tacoma Water Conservation

3628 South 35th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409

Water Grants and Loans

If you need to replace a leaking water service line at your home, you may qualify for a grant or zero-interest loan to help pay for the work.

Grant and Loan Options

  • A zero-interest loan of up to $5,000 for up to 84 months. We may consider a higher amount or longer term in some cases.1
  • A grant of up to $5,000 if your household meets income requirements. If your project costs more than the grant amount, you may also qualify for a deferred loan.1

1 All loans are secured with a lien against your property.

Why should I apply?

You are responsible for maintaining the water service line on your property. Many homeowners do not think about this pipe until it leaks or breaks.

Replacing an old or damaged service line can help keep your water service reliable and lower the risk of future leaks. A grant or zero-interest loan can help with the cost.

When can I apply?

You can apply after you or Tacoma Water finds a leak or break in the water service line to your home.

How to get a grant or loan

  1. Find a leak or break

    You or a Tacoma Water representative finds and reports a leak or break in your water service line.

  2. Apply for funding

    Apply online for a grant or zero-interest loan, and send us a contractor bid.

    The bid must include:

    A list of all work the contractor will do

    Any permit costs required by your city

    Your signature and the contractor’s signature

    The date you both signed the bid

    We also have tips about hiring a contractor that you can check out here.

    *The bid should include an itemized list of all work to be done (including any permit costs required for your respective municipality) and be signed/dated by the property owner and contractor.

  3. We review your application

    We review your application, contractor bid, and project details.

    If we approve your grant or loan, we will tell you which documents you need to complete.

  4. Sign your documents

    Sign the required documents with a notary and send them back to us.

  5. We tell you when work can begin

    We review your signed documents and send you a Notice to Proceed. This notice means your contractor can start the work.  

  6. Schedule the work

    Contact your contractor to schedule the service line replacement.

  7. We process payment

    After your contractor finishes the work, send us the invoice. We will confirm that the work is complete and process the payment.

Ready to Apply?

Start your online application

Applying for a grant? Complete one more step 

If you apply for a grant, you must also complete Tacoma Public Utilities’ Bill Payment Assistance application. Your household must meet the income guidelines for your household size.

Check the current income guidelines to see if you may qualify

Our Customer Solutions team reviews your application and confirms whether you meet the income requirements for a grant.

If you already completed the application and receive bill payment assistance from TPU, email WaterGrantLoan@tacoma.gov so we can make sure your information is current.

If you meet the income guidelines, you may qualify for up to $5,000 toward the cost of replacing your water service line. We will also enroll you in a TPU Bill Payment Assistance program to help lower your monthly utility bill. If you do not qualify for a grant, you may still qualify for a zero-interest loan to help replace your water service line.

Apply for Bill Payment Assistance

Repairs that are covered and not covered

  • Your water service line and related water equipment between the water meter and the outside wall of the first building after the meter
  • A whole-house shut-off valve, if you need one, to set up a temporary water service line
  • Sprinkler or irrigation systems
  • Plumbing fixtures or pipes inside your home
  • Outdoor hose bibs
  • A pressure-reducing valve that does not connect to the service line
  • A backflow prevention assembly that does not connect to the service line

Who is responsible for the water service line?

 

The image is an illustrative diagram depicting the relationship between a water main, service lines, and a residential property. Positioned at the top of the image is a light green area suggesting grass, with three stylized evergreen trees on the left and a white picket fence. Below this, there is a gray road running horizontally across the image. The house is on the right, prominently featured with a sloped roof and light-colored walls. A water meter is placed at the base of the house, with two service lines extending from it. The first service line, indicated in blue, represents the utility-owned service line connecting the water meter to the main water supply. The second line, in orange, signifies the customer-owned service line running from the meter to the house. Above the house are two circles showcasing customer-owned plumbing elements: one shows a sink, while the other displays a toilet. At the bottom of the image, there’s a text section with policy information related to water service line repairs, indicating specified conditions for repairs up to three feet and beyond.

Tacoma Water owns and maintains the water main, the utility-owned part of the service line and the water meter shown in blue.

Tacoma Water owns and maintains the water main, the utility-owned part of the service line and the water meter shown in blue. You own and maintain the service line and plumbing shown in orange.

The water service line carries water from the city’s water main to your home. Most service lines look like the example shown here. In some cases, the meter sits farther from your home. If that happens, you may own a longer section of the service line.

Upon application approval, we offer zero-interest loans to property owners in the Tacoma Water service area to complete approved plumbing repairs between our meter and the point at which the water service line connects to the indoor plumbing. 

The typical cost of water service line replacement is about $7,900. The standard loan amount is $5,000 for residential customers, with exceptions on a case-by-case basis. For income-eligible customers, grants of up to $5,000 are also available. 

Financial assistance may be available to repair or replace your side sewer pipe through the City of Tacoma Environmental Services Sewer Conservation Loan program. Click here to learn more. 

Need Help With a Side Sewer?

If you need to repair or replace your side sewer pipe, the City of Tacoma Environmental Services Sewer Conservation Loan Program may offer financial help.

Learn about the Sewer Conservation Loan Program

Contact

Tacoma Water Conservation

3628 South 35th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409