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The stop and waste valve is the main shutoff for your sprinklers — buried deep to survive Utah winters. We diagnose, repair, and replace them, and we only replace yours when it truly needs it.
A stop and waste valve — also called a main irrigation shutoff or sprinkler shutoff valve — is a brass valve tied into your culinary main water line, usually buried deep underground. It is where the water to your landscape sprinklers and drip irrigation turns on and off, and where the system drains for winter.
Because it sits on a live main line several feet down, a stop and waste valve should only be replaced by experienced professionals. Our Utah County and Salt Lake County technicians repair, diagnose, and replace these valves every day — and we never replace one that does not actually need it.
How Deep & Why
Depth is almost always about freeze protection. In Utah these valves typically sit four to five feet down, though they can range from about three to eight feet deep. They are buried below the frost line so they never freeze.
The valve usually sits on a direct path between your water meter and the home, often close to the meter. As a rule, the closer it is to the house, the deeper it tends to be — which is part of what drives the price and timeline of a replacement.
Signs of a Leak
These valves are designed to release a small amount of water on purpose when they close. But they will also leak continuously if the stem is not fully open or fully closed — even about five percent open is enough to feed a steady leak. A valve that will not fully close is also a winterization risk, because water can keep feeding your irrigation after you think it is shut off.
We never replace a valve that does not need it. If yours is simply stuck slightly open, you typically just pay our $39.99 service fee and we take care of it for you.
Repair or Replace
Not every wet spot is a failed valve. We confirm whether you are dealing with a true leak, a stuck stem, or a partial-open condition, then recommend the smallest repair that fits how you use the system — including simply clearing a valve that only needs to be fully opened or closed before we ever talk replacement.
When a buried brass valve truly needs replacing, we expose the line carefully, size professional-grade components to your service line, and backfill properly so you are not paying to dig twice.
Older homes with galvanized main lines sometimes need a full main line replacement as well — commonly $5,000–$20,000 depending on the property — which must be completed by a licensed plumber. We will tell you honestly if that is what you are looking at.
Secondary Water & Other Setups
Most cities on secondary water do not use a deeply buried stop and waste the way culinary systems do. Lehi is the exception — pink secondary water meters there can appear alongside deeply buried stop and waste valves on culinary irrigation.
Some homes use a basement shutoff for the sprinklers instead of an outdoor stop and waste, but on culinary water in Utah, outdoor stop and waste setups are still very common. HOAs, multi-family, and commercial properties may have several stop and waste valves and often need predictable scheduling and documentation — we handle that as part of our commercial irrigation programs.
We also install stop and waste valves for homeowners adding a new sprinkler system or converting from secondary to culinary water. Not sure what is going on at your property? Call us for a free phone estimate.
$1,600–$2,600
Typical stop & waste replacement
A stop and waste valve replacement is $1,600. If the mainline tee it connects to also needs to be replaced, that is an additional $1,000. All of our repairs, including stop and waste valves, are backed by a five-year parts and labor warranty when you enroll in a Pure Irrigation maintenance plan.
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FAQ
It is the main shutoff for your sprinkler system — a brass valve tied into your culinary main line, usually buried several feet underground, that turns irrigation water on and off and lets the system drain for winter.
Usually four to five feet, though they range from about three to eight feet. They are buried below the frost line so they never freeze.
A stop and waste valve replacement is $1,600. If the mainline tee it sits on also needs to be replaced, that adds about $1,000, bringing it to roughly $2,600. Homes with old galvanized main lines may need a separate main line replacement by a licensed plumber.
Look for water in the valve access tube, puddling around the shutoff, or the meter box filling with water. You can also watch the meter with the valve open and no sprinklers running — if the dial climbs, water is escaping on the irrigation side.
Usually not the deep buried kind. Lehi is a notable exception, where culinary irrigation can still use deeply buried stop and waste valves alongside pink secondary meters.
Every technician on our team is vetted, trained, and background-checked before they ever set foot on your property. Professional, respectful, and tidy — that is the standard we hold on every visit.
When your system goes down, every day counts. We guarantee availability within 48 business hours and show up prepared to fix it right the first time — no waiting weeks for a callback.
We use premium parts and proven techniques, then back our workmanship with a multi-year warranty. The job is done properly the first time so you are not calling us back for the same problem.
Respectful, tidy, background-checked technicians who explain what they find in plain language. No pressure, no jargon — just honest help and a clean job site when we leave.
Homeowners and businesses across Utah County and Salt Lake County trust Pure Irrigation for honest, dependable stop & waste valve. Fast response, fair pricing, and workmanship that lasts — that is the Pure Irrigation difference.
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Learn MoreService Area
We provide landscape irrigation service across Utah County and Salt Lake County. Do not see your city? Reach out — we are always expanding.
Maintenance Plans
Keep your system running its best year-round with a Pure Irrigation maintenance membership — priority scheduling, waived service fees, repair discounts, and a workmanship warranty on covered repairs.
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