What’s Down There? The Mysteries of a Curb Box

What’s Down There? The Mysteries of a Curb Box

Walking along the sidewalk, you may have come across a round lid that simply says the word ‘water’ on it. Have you ever pondered what this lid is and what lies beneath it?

As the saying goes: out of sight, out of mind. This is a concept that definitely holds true for the water works industry. With all parts located underneath the ground, it’s easy to view these components as a mystery, especially for the homeowner. One of these mysteries is the curb box.

The curb box is characterized as the vertical cast-iron pipe extending from the curb or sidewalk level down to the shutoff at the water-main connection. The function of this part is to give the city access to the valve found underground that shuts the water on and off for a household. For the most part, the household should never have access to this function, unless it’s for a cabin or lake house.

Above the ground, all a person can physically see of the curb box is the lid and the attached pipe, because the curb box itself is located 4-6 feet below that. To add more security, a key of some sort is needed in order to access the shutoff valve. The city should be the only one with access to this key and the valve.

While there are many more parts that are necessary for water’s journey to one’s home/building, the curb box stands out from the rest. With only the lid visible from the sidewalk or street, anyone who walks by may wonder ‘what’s down there?’. Thanks to us, now they know.