In short
Installing a new service line by boring between two small pits instead of digging a full trench.
How it works
Small pits are dug at the meter and at the house. A boring tool travels underground between them, and the new pipe is pulled back through. Everything between the pits stays in place.
Good fits in Decatur
- Lines under driveways, brick or stone walks and porches
- Mature trees along the route
- Gardens and hardscape you want to keep
When it may not work
Granite close to the surface, crowded utilities or a very short run across open lawn can make a trench the better choice.
Questions
Is trenchless always better?
No. On a short, open run of grass, digging a trench usually wins on speed.
Related
Water line repairRepairing the buried pipe on your side of the DeKalb meter: the break is located, a small…Main line replacementLaying a new service line from the DeKalb meter to the house, by trench or by boring, and…Galvanized pipe replacementReplacing an aging galvanized steel service line on the owner's side of the meter with…Burst line helpUrgent repair of a service line that has split or pulled apart, after the water has been…
Sources: DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management service line ownership sheet, lead and copper FAQ and 2026 galvanized pipe notices; Atlanta News First, 15 January 2025; City of Decatur news release, 14 January 2025.
