Eau de Paris, your plumber, your co-ownership: who handles what on the water network?

Water damage. A faulty meter. A bill that explodes. A water cut. Who should you contact? Depending on exactly where the problem is, it is not the same person, not the same bill, not the same timeframe. This guide details who handles what on the Paris water network, between Eau de Paris, your plumber and your co-ownership.

Eau de Paris: the public water service

Eau de Paris is the public establishment that manages the drinking water supply for the capital. Created in 2009, it handles capture, treatment and distribution of water up to your building's meter.

What Eau de Paris is responsible for

• The public pipe network under the streets
• The connections from the building to the public network
• The building's general meter (sometimes)
• The quality of drinking water distributed
• Billing at the general or individual meter

When to contact Eau de Paris

Contact Eau de Paris for: a water cut in the neighbourhood, a water quality issue (colour, taste, smell), a malfunctioning general meter, a question about your bill, a pressure problem at the meter.

The customer service is reachable at 09 69 39 40 50 or via eaudeparis.fr.

The co-ownership (syndic): from meter to your apartment

Once water is in the building, responsibility passes to the co-ownership, represented by the property manager.

What the co-ownership is responsible for

• Cold and hot water riser pipes
• Individual water meters (generally)
• Pipes in common areas
• Wastewater evacuation columns
• Collective installations (boiler room, booster pump)

When to contact your property manager

Contact your property manager for: a leak on a riser pipe, a common area problem, a water cut in the building only, a collective hot water failure, a pressure problem throughout the building.

Your plumber: your apartment and beyond

From the branch point of the riser pipe to your apartment, you (or your owner) are responsible. Your plumber intervenes on this perimeter.

What your plumber is responsible for

• Pipes after the branch in your apartment
• Taps and fittings
• The individual water heater
• Sanitary equipment (toilet, washbasin, shower, bath)
• The trap and drains in your apartment

When to contact your plumber

Contact your plumber for: a leak in your apartment, a broken water heater, a blocked pipe, a faulty tap, an emergency sanitary intervention.

The water meter: between Eau de Paris and the co-ownership

The general building meter

Managed and maintained by Eau de Paris. It is the reference for co-ownership billing.

Individual sub-meters

To allow billing per apartment, some buildings have individual meters. These are generally installed and maintained by the co-ownership, sometimes through a specialised provider. Reading is annual.

Practical cases: who to call?

Case 1: No water at the tap

First check: ring at a neighbour. If they also have no water, it is probably a co-ownership cut or an Eau de Paris problem. If they have water, the problem is in your apartment and you need to call a plumber.

Case 2: Cloudy or coloured water

Check if neighbours have the same problem. If yes, contact Eau de Paris (network or riser problem). If no, the problem is in your installation, call a plumber for diagnosis.

Case 3: Abnormally high water bill

Probably an invisible leak in your apartment. Request leak detection from a specialised plumber.

Case 4: Ceiling leak from the floor above

Ring the neighbour's bell. If they are not there, contact the property manager. If the leak comes from the riser pipe, it is the co-ownership. If it comes from the neighbour's private pipes, it is them via their plumber.

Case 5: Scheduled cut by the co-ownership

The co-ownership must notify 48 hours in advance by posting. If not respected, contact your property manager.

How to navigate between contacts

• In emergency (leak, flood): start with your plumber to stop the leak, who can identify the source
• In case of doubt, the property manager can often direct you
• Ask the plumber for a report clearly identifying the problem source
• Keep all reports and invoices for possible responsibility transfers

Frequently asked questions

My property manager refuses to intervene on what they consider private. What to do?

Request a written report from a plumber identifying the precise source. If it turns out to be a common area, you can issue a formal notice by registered letter.

Can Eau de Paris intervene in my apartment?

No, except for meter replacement or reading. Any intervention in your apartment falls to your plumber.

How to know where the riser pipe ends and my private installation begins?

Generally at the landing level or at the entrance to your apartment, just after the general shut-off valve. In case of doubt, a plumber can identify it precisely.