The service line is the pipe that extends from the water main to the building. Some of that distance is under the street / sidewalk and is owned by the city, and some of it is under the owner’s property and is owned by them.

When I had my service line replaced, Providence Water calculated the length of the pipe that fell on either side of the property line. They paid the contractor the full amount to do the replacement, and then set up a loan for the amount I owe them for the part that’s on my property. Ergo, we shared the cost of the replacement.