How Much Does Main Water Line Replacement Cost in Denver? [2025 Data]

Main water line replacement costs in Denver are higher than in other cities due to the need for a deep burial, expensive materials, and costly labor. Denver residents will see an average cost of $2,338, but it can range anywhere from $1,079 to $3,597, depending on materials and water main style. However, permitting should be simple and considering the population, finding a pro shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. 

Main Water Line Replacement Cost Factors

Denver has the benefit of many experienced pros who can tackle this project, but work in the city doesn’t come cheap due to the cost of living and material access. The following factors influence the cost of replacing a water main in the Colorado capital.  

Materials

Denver water lines need to use more robust and costly materials than cities in more moderate climates. Ductile iron is most likely the best choice for homeowners, but it also costs much more than thermoplastics like PVC and PEX. These synthetic products are priced well and are easy to work with, but they pose significant disadvantages in winter climates (freezing and cracking). The average costs for common materials are below and include an average amount of labor. 

Frequency

Replacing your water main is usually an emergency repair, and if it isn’t, you still need to address it immediately. We expect most homeowners may need to perform this replacement once, or not at all, throughout the lifetime of their home.

Due to their buried depth, maintenance on Denver water mains is practically non-existent. What makes a big difference in how long your main will last is making sure it was installed correctly and that you take good care of the plumbing inside your home. Any significant clogging or other damage can easily affect the main line. 

Demolition and Prep

This isn’t a DIY job, so you shouldn’t attempt any of the pre-project work yourself. Depending on the time of year, a pro would need to bring a serious excavator to dig up your trenched line. Depending on its condition, they may need to dig deeper in order to remove it or assess the damage. Prep work involves shutting off the water to your home and the main water line connection before swapping out the line. 

Trench vs. Trenchless

If your line is buried leading to your home, you have a main installed in a trench. These are considerably easier to replace than trenchless systems, which means you should have a much easier time finding an available pro, which is a huge plus, as water main replacements almost always need to be immediately addressed.

Denver is a city with serious freezing pipe concerns, so while trenchless options are available, it isn’t a good idea to have your main water source exposed to prolonged winter temperatures. For this reason, trenchless systems tend to be more expensive (and less practical) in Denver. 

Depth 

Water mains in Denver need to be buried deep beneath the surface to be under the frost-penetrating layer. This results in lines having an average minimum depth of 36 inches, but they really should be 48 inches (4 feet) or more. The deeper the line, the more expensive it will be to dig up and replace it. During some winter months, this would be extremely difficult and time-consuming due to the frozen ground. 

Permits

Your pro should be applying for and pulling permits in Denver. Permits are required, but the city has a “Quick Permit” application page where you can request a permit without your plan needing to be reviewed. This speeds up the project considerably and helps keep costs low. Water main replacements aren’t specifically mentioned, but water service is—talk to a pro to confirm and expect to pay around $150 to $500 for the permit. 

Post-Construction Cleanup

Expect to pay approximately $200 for cleanup costs if they aren’t included in the project fee. Old pipe material like lead may need to be disposed of in a specific way, costing around $100 more. Unfortunately, you can’t reuse water mains after they’ve degraded past a certain point in their usable life, and will need to be replaced. 

Plumbing Pro Costs

The cost of a top Denver plumber depends on the work being performed. For trenched installations, expect to pay pro costs between $40 and $100 per hour and between $50 and $150 per hour for trenchless. Due to the low winter temps, it’s more common in Denver for lines to be buried rather than remain exposed (and susceptible to freeze damage). 

Does Replacing a Main Water Line Increase Home Value?

If you have a water main that needs replacing, don’t expect it to increase your home’s value. Water mains are an integral part of the home, and your home won’t increase in value if you have one installed and in good condition, but your home will surely lose value if you don’t. If you have any suspicions about your water main, regardless of whether you’re planning on selling or refinancing, you need to have a pro address it immediately. 

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.