Well....It appears that in COlumbus the City is responsible only for the street connection into the city water line. I am responsible from the connection for anything from the street to my house. And the leak appears to be just outside where the line comes into the house....whihc includes about 40 ft of piping, up a hill, and into the house. <sigh> And moving/replacing the water meter inside the house since it is so old (1950's).

The joys of having a home built in 1902.... And since my lawn is so small, I will likely tear up the neighbor's yard too....

Lilith, thanks for the idea of having a "handyman" do the backhoe work and then having the plumber only connect. I will price this option out tomorrow. Of course, no options to have Mr. Osuche do the work.....He has this knack for screwing hosehold jobs up. I think it's strategic incompetence

__________________
Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney