Water line easement -- why?

Ken45101 · May 21, 2015

Our rural water company would like an easement to run a new line across the back of our property. (We already have service to the house on the other side of our property.) This new line would be supplying a nearby town where they bought the water company. It seems like no big deal, they will probably follow a 4wheeler trail I have in that area.

The water company guys says if we don't want it, no big deal, they will run the line on the other side of the road (steeper hillside).

Why should we give them a free easement ? Even if it's not a big deal, we still end up with granting access when necessary, minor inconvenience during the construction, etc.

Thoughts? Pro and con?

Thanks,

Ken

LD1 · May 21, 2015

For you to get nothing out of the deal there is no incentive for you to let them.

Not sure how utility easements work. I think most of the time they are in the right of way of the road, and technically not your land. But still throw in a hefty discount on a tap for service. With the gas lines that don't follow the road, I think the gas company pays the land owners a little something.

I guess the only incentive for you may be a few cents off your bill. If going on your property is the easiest solution and you decline, it is going to cost more for them to run to the next town. And you can be sure that cost will be passes on to all of their customers

txdon · May 21, 2015

You get no benefit or compensation. They give you an option to refuse, I'd take the option.

Brad_Blazer · May 21, 2015

According to this short article, the value of the easement is at least the full fair market value of the area of the easement. How to Appraise a Value on a Property Easement | eHow

www.Zillow.com might be helpful for current market value.

"For free" would not happen on my property. I can hardly believe they suggested it.

davesl708 · May 21, 2015

I wonder how long it will be before a road and more houses go along with the waterline. Land behind your property will be more valuable with a water supply close by.

You should get either a reduction in water cost or a property tax credit spread out over twenty years.

HeLa · May 21, 2015

Ken45101 said:
we still end up with granting access when necessary, minor inconvenience during the construction, etc.

have friends with a similar situation and on more than one occasion the utility company has made a mess of his place going through there with equipment. it'll also be another issue to deal with as it runs with the land, if you ever sell the place. if there's really no incentive provided to allow it, let them dig on the other side of the street.

Gary Fowler · May 21, 2015

If you are getting nothing in return for a messed up field, then tell them to stick with the roads. Why should you save them money when there is not benefit to you and in fact it will cause you some future work when the ditch backfill settles after a rain or two. That always happens when a ditch is dug, especially a narrow one where good compaction is not done. I spend some time putting dirt on a ditch way that runs across my property to supply water to my brother in law's house. Just about thru me off the tractor when mowing until I filled it in, then it took over a year for the grass to grow back on it.

Complete Turf Care · May 21, 2015

I was on the board of our rural water system for 25 years. It was rare that we asked for an easement on private property.

I would suggest that you give them the easement and make sure that they fix your land back to the condition it's in before they do any construction. I'm sure they will do this anyway.

Granting the easement will help your neighbors to have cheaper water in the long run. And, there should never be a need to return to your property, but they need the easement in case of an emergency, such as a busted pipe. But, I seriously doubt that will ever happen.

Walt 2002 · May 21, 2015

I did grant an easement along our farm ground with no benefit partly due to threat of extremely high connection fee if a connection was requested at some future date but don't think I would again though no problem so far.

Walt Conner

Kenneth in Texas · May 21, 2015

no pay-no easement, simple as that, at least at this stage in the game.

If it was vital they could force the easement on you as all utility companies can do.