If it is his water feed to the house, it will be down below freeze level. hand digging that right now would be impossible. The estimates sound about right for that job. They are goin to have to come and dig up the old line and hook a new one to the tap out by the road and then run it all the way to the house. It should only be a 1 day job. I wish I could help you out but I have my backhoe tied up all weekend and next week removing snow from the parking lots.