Burst Pipe Repair in Fountain Hills, AZ

Who supplies water in Fountain Hills, and who do I call for a break in the street?

The Town of Fountain Hills does not run the water or sewer system. EPCOR supplies water through its Chaparral City district, which also covers parts of Scottsdale. EPCOR's line for outages and water trouble is 800-383-0834, and it takes calls at any hour. Sewer is a separate special district, the Fountain Hills Sanitary District; for a broken or collapsed sewer line in the public right-of-way or a district easement, call the district at 480-837-9444. Leaks inside the house and on your own side of the meter are for a plumber.

Does hard water play a part in pipe failures here?

It can. EPCOR reports Fountain Hills water at about 16 grains per gallon, which is on the hard side even for the Valley. Scale collects inside valves, supply connectors and water heater fittings, and those parts are often what fails first. A softener or regular maintenance on fixtures helps, but it will not undo scale already built up in old valves. EPCOR also keeps a service line inventory for the system at epcor.com/safety and says it removes any lead pipes it identifies.

What permits apply to the repair?

The Town's Building Safety division, part of Planning and Zoning on Avenue of the Fountains, handles construction permits through its online TOPPS system and can be reached at 480-816-5123. The Town's page does not list specific plumbing repair rules, so if a burst turns into rerouting or replacing a run of pipe, ask your plumber to confirm with Building Safety before the work starts.

Local note

A hard freeze is uncommon in Fountain Hills, but exposed hose bibs, backflow assemblies and pool lines are worth covering when one is forecast. If you leave for the summer, shut the main before you go and have someone check the house now and then.

When you call the number on this page, you'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Fountain Hills. Describe where the water is, whether the main is closed and what the pipe looks like. The plumber will replace the damaged section, refill the lines slowly and check nearby joints. Arrival time depends on the hour and the plumber's schedule.