Independent Mount Vernon water-service guide: WaterDepartmentGuide.org is an independent informational resource and is not operated by, affiliated with, or endorsed by the City of Mount Vernon, New York, the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply, Department of Public Works, or Department of Buildings.
New water taps, plumbing work, street openings and service-line construction can require project-specific approvals. Verify the final scope, permits and charges with the responsible City department before hiring a contractor or opening the street.
Mount Vernon Water Department: New Service Connection 2026
Mount Vernon, New York · new water service guide
Need Water Service? First Determine Whether You Need an Account, a Water Tap or a New Service Line
The Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply operates the City’s water system, maintains approximately 105 miles of mains and 1,140 hydrants, makes taps for domestic and industrial customers, maintains meters and handles water billing.
A property with an existing usable water service may only require an Application for Service. New construction or a property without a usable connection can involve a physical water-main tap, plumbing permit, street-opening permit and Board of Water Supply requirements.
(914) 668-7820 · City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square, Room 2 · Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Do this before anything else
Do You Need New Water Service or a New Physical Connection?
First determine whether the property already has a Board of Water Supply service line, curb valve and meter. If the physical connection already exists and can be used, the customer-service process can be much simpler than building a new connection.
Existing House or Building
The premises already has a water line and meter or a previously used Board connection.
Likely starting point:- Complete the Board’s Application for Service.
- Confirm account and meter status.
- Ask whether a turn-on or inspection is needed.
No Existing Usable Connection
A new building, redevelopment or disconnected property requires physical connection work.
Potential requirements:- Board of Water Supply tap approval
- Plumbing permit
- Street-opening permit
- Licensed contractor
- Inspection / restoration
Existing Service Line Is Leaking
Responsibility depends on where the leak occurs.
Board responsibility:Main to curb valve.
Customer responsibility:Curb valve toward the meter/property.
See Responsibility GuideBefore excavating or applying for permits, call the Board of Water Supply at (914) 668-7820 and ask whether the property has an existing service, meter and curb connection and whether the project requires a new tap.
Quick reference
Mount Vernon Water Department Quick Facts
Existing connection / new account
Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply Application for Service
Board of Water Supply Application for Service
The City’s Water Department page directly publishes an official Application for Service PDF. Use the Board’s current form rather than a generic utility application downloaded elsewhere.
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1
Confirm the service address
Make sure the property is within the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply system and determine whether an existing service connection is present.
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2
Download the current Board application
Use the form linked from the City’s Water Department page so you are working from the Board’s own application.
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3
Complete the requested customer and property information
Do not leave required fields blank. If ownership, tenancy, meter status or service status is unclear, ask the Board before submitting.
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4
Ask whether supporting documents are required
The public Water Department page links the application but does not publish a complete universal checklist for every property type. Call the Board to confirm current identification, ownership, meter or construction documentation applicable to your property.
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5
Confirm whether the meter and curb service are usable
An account application does not by itself resolve a missing, abandoned, undersized or damaged physical service line.
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6
Get project-specific instructions before excavation
If the Board says a new tap, replacement service or public-street work is required, follow the connection and permit workflow below.
A new physical water connection can require separate Water Board, Buildings Department and Department of Public Works approvals.
New tap / service line
How to Get a New Mount Vernon Water Service Connection
Mount Vernon’s municipal code separately requires water service work in public property to comply with Department of Public Works rules and Board of Water Supply requirements.
Connection checklist
2026 municipal requirements
What Mount Vernon Code Says About Water Service Lines
Public-property work follows DPW rules
Installation and repair of water service lines in a public street, highway, easement or other public property must comply with Department of Public Works rules and specifications.
Water Board rules also apply
Tapping a water main and installing or repairing water service lines must also conform to Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply rules and regulations.
Recheck street-opening requirements
Mount Vernon’s Chapter 227 received a 2026 amendment concerning construction, sewer connections, drains, water mains and obstructions. Contractors should use the current code rather than an older permit checklist.
Review Article VI, “Connections to Sanitary Sewers, Stormwater Drains and Water Mains.”
Construction approvals
Mount Vernon Water Connection Permits
Plumbing Permit
A new water connection is listed as a chargeable item under the City’s Plumbing Permit fee schedule.
Fixture-based and other permit charges can also apply depending on project scope.
Buildings Forms & FeesStreet-Opening Permit
Water service installation, repair or leak work within the public right-of-way is listed in the City’s street-opening permit schedule.
The code schedule also identifies a qualifying $100,000 annual surety bond alternative in the Type B category. Confirm the correct bonding/deposit arrangement with DPW.
Street Opening CodeThose are verified City permit-related charges, not a complete project quote. The total can also include Water Board tap requirements, plumber labor, service pipe, curb work, pavement restoration, meter work, engineering, bonding and other project-specific expenses.
Budget correctly
How Much Is a New Mount Vernon Water Connection in 2026?
The physical cost depends on the connection, location, permit requirements, excavation and service-line work. Get a Board-specific connection requirement and contractor quote rather than relying on one generic “water hookup fee.”
Other costs to ask about before construction
Critical ownership boundary
Who Is Responsible for the Mount Vernon Water Service Line?
Water Main → Curb Valve
The Water Department says it investigates service-line leaks and repairs leaking services from the water main to the curb valve.
- Public water main
- Board-side service segment
- Main-to-curb leak investigation
Curb Valve → Meter
The City’s Water Department page states that the customer is responsible from the curb valve to the meter.
- Customer-side service line
- Private-side repair responsibility
- Contractor / permit coordination
If an inspection shows an old, leaking or lead customer-side service line, ask whether the needed work is private-side repair, Board-side work or part of a current lead-service-line program before accepting a contractor quote.
Before reusing an older service
Lead Service Lines & New Connection Planning
Ask what material is recorded
Mount Vernon’s water system has been conducting service-line inventory work. Before reusing an older service, ask whether the Board has a recorded material classification for both the public and customer sides.
Do not bury an unresolved issue
If the street or service line will already be opened, clarify whether lead, galvanized or unknown material must be replaced under current requirements.
Coordinate before contractor mobilization
Public-side and private-side responsibilities can differ. Confirm who is performing each portion before excavation begins.
“What service-line material does your inventory show for this property, and does the proposed new-service or repair project trigger any replacement requirement?”
Commercial / multifamily considerations
Backflow Prevention for New Mount Vernon Water Service
Who prepares the packet?
The City’s cross-connection guidance says a New York State licensed professional engineer or registered architect is needed to prepare the applicable backflow application packet.
Does installation need a permit?
Yes. The City states that installation of backflow prevention devices requires a plumbing permit from the Mount Vernon Department of Buildings.
Check Board requirements before finalizing a commercial or multifamily connection design.
Meter setup
Mount Vernon Water Meter Responsibility
Meter maintenance
The Board of Water Supply says it maintains or replaces water meters to ensure accurate billing.
Confirm meter size
For a new connection, do not select a meter or design the service solely from building pipe size. Confirm Board requirements for the intended demand.
Meter drives billing
The Water Department reads meters, generates bills and investigates unusually high or low usage.
Current department posting
Mount Vernon Water Rate Shown in 2026
The consumption rate is what the customer pays for water service after activation. It should not be confused with construction, tap, plumbing or street-opening charges required to create the connection.
After service starts
Mount Vernon Water Account & Online Billing
CivicPay
The Board’s online account system lets customers make payments, view bills, see usage history and review account history.
Open CivicPayHave a recent bill ready
The portal asks first-time users for information including the customer name, building number, account number exactly as printed on the bill and an email address.
One-Time Payment
The payment portal also provides a one-time payment path for customers who do not want to register an online profile.
The online portal currently displays a notice that electronic bill delivery is temporarily suspended during system updates, while online payment remains available. Customers enrolled in paperless billing are being sent paper bills during the suspension.
No water / active leak
Mount Vernon Water Emergency Phone Numbers
2026 system maintenance
2026 Hydrant Flushing & Temporary Water Changes
If water looks discolored
- Check whether flushing is occurring in your area.
- Avoid washing light-colored laundry until water clears.
- Run a cold-water tap as directed by the Water Department.
- Call the Board if discoloration does not clear.
2026 schedule
The City published a section-by-section flushing schedule for May 2026, including both daytime and overnight flushing periods.
View 2026 SchedulePhone, address & hours
Mount Vernon Water Department Contact Information
Water Department Customer Office
City Hall
1 Roosevelt Square, Room 2
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Phone: (914) 668-7820
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Board of Water Supply
P.O. Box 271
Mount Vernon, NY 10551-0271
Use the payment stub when mailing a standard water payment to this P.O. Box.
Plumbing Permit Questions
City Hall
Roosevelt Square
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Phone: (914) 665-2483
Permit Forms & FeesIn-person service
Map to Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply
When the project gets stuck
Mount Vernon New Water Service Troubleshooting
| Problem | Best Next Step |
|---|---|
| Just bought an existing house | Ask the Board whether the existing service/meter can be activated before starting a new-tap project. |
| No water line appears to serve the property | Contact the Board before permit filing to confirm main availability and tap requirements. |
| Contractor says street must be opened | Confirm DPW Type B street-opening requirements, deposit/bond and restoration standards. |
| Need plumbing permit | Use Department of Buildings forms; the current fee page lists a $125 filing fee and $250 water-connection item. |
| Leak between main and curb valve | Call the Board; the Water Department identifies this segment as its repair responsibility. |
| Leak from curb valve toward meter | Customer-side repair responsibility may apply; coordinate a properly permitted plumber. |
| Older service may contain lead | Ask the Board for service-line inventory information before reusing or replacing the connection. |
| Commercial project requires backflow | Follow the Board’s cross-connection application and County Health review workflow. |
| No water after connection / activation | Call the Water Department at (914) 668-7820. |
One-minute action guide
What Should You Do Next?
Understand the project
Mount Vernon Water Connection Terms
- Board of Water Supply
- The City of Mount Vernon entity responsible for the municipal drinking-water system.
- Water Main
- The public distribution pipe that carries drinking water through the City’s water system.
- Service Tap
- The connection between a property water service and a public water main.
- Service Line
- The pipe carrying water from the public distribution system toward the building.
- Curb Valve
- The service shutoff point that also marks an important maintenance-responsibility boundary in Mount Vernon’s published guidance.
- Water Meter
- The measuring device maintained or replaced by the Board for accurate water billing.
- Street-Opening Permit
- Authorization required for qualifying excavation or utility work within public streets or rights-of-way.
- Backflow Preventer
- A device designed to prevent potentially contaminated water from flowing backward into the public drinking-water system.
- Lead Service Line
- A water service line made partly or fully from lead, requiring special inventory and replacement consideration.
- Application for Service
- The official Board of Water Supply form linked by the City for requesting water service.
Primary resources
Official Mount Vernon Water Connection Resources
10 new-service questions
Mount Vernon Water Department New Service FAQs
1. How do I start water service in Mount Vernon, New York?
Start with the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply’s official Application for Service, which is linked from the City’s Water Department page. If the property already has a usable water connection and meter, the Board can advise what is needed to activate or establish service. Call (914) 668-7820 if you are unsure whether physical connection work is required.
2. Do I need a new water tap when buying an existing Mount Vernon property?
Not necessarily. An existing property may already have a Board of Water Supply tap, service line, curb valve and meter. Ask the Board to confirm the property’s service status before paying for a new connection or excavation.
3. Who makes water taps in Mount Vernon?
The Mount Vernon Water Department states that the Board of Water Supply makes taps for domestic and industrial customers. Mount Vernon code also requires water-main taps and water service-line work to comply with Board of Water Supply rules in addition to Department of Public Works requirements.
4. What permits are required for a new Mount Vernon water connection?
A physical connection can require a plumbing permit and, when public street or right-of-way work is involved, a street-opening permit. The project must also comply with Board of Water Supply connection requirements. Larger or specialized projects can have additional approvals.
5. How much is the Mount Vernon plumbing permit for a water connection?
The City’s current Buildings fee page lists a $125 plumbing filing fee and a separate $250 water-connection charge. It also lists a $100 letter-of-completion fee. Fixture and other project-specific charges can be additional, so these amounts should not be treated as the total cost of a new water service.
6. How much is a street-opening permit for a new water service?
The City’s current street-opening schedule places water service leak, repair and installation work in the Type B category. The schedule lists a $700 permit fee and a $5,000 deposit, with a qualifying $100,000 annual surety-bond option identified in the code. Confirm the correct requirement with DPW for your contractor and project.
7. Who is responsible for a leaking Mount Vernon water service line?
The Water Department says the Board investigates and repairs leaking services from the water main to the curb valve. The customer is responsible for the service from the curb valve to the meter.
8. What is the Mount Vernon water rate in 2026?
The Water Department page reviewed in August 2026 still displays the rate change effective January 1, 2025: $4.30 per 100 cubic feet with a minimum charge of $64.50 for usage up to 1,500 cubic feet. Verify the latest bill or Board notice before budgeting long-term operating costs.
9. What is the Mount Vernon Water Department phone number?
The Board of Water Supply phone number is (914) 668-7820. The customer office is at City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square, Room 2, Mount Vernon, NY 10550. The Water Department page lists in-person payment hours as Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
10. What number do I call for no water or an emergency leak in Mount Vernon?
The Water Department specifically directs customers with emergency leaks or lack of water to call (914) 668-7820. The department contact listing also identifies (914) 662-2103 as an emergency phone number.