Rio Verde is an unincorporated, member-owned 55+ golf community on EPCOR's well-fed Rio Verde water system, so EPCOR sets the backflow testing rules and Maricopa County Planning and Development issues permits. Commercial work here centers on clubhouses, golf facilities and shared community buildings. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Rio Verde.

Rio Verde conditions
Rio Verde was developed from 1973 as a master-planned, age-restricted active adult golf community on the Verde River in the far northeast corner of the metro, near the Tonto National Forest and McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Most non-residential plumbing here serves shared facilities: clubhouse kitchens and restrooms, locker rooms, pools and maintenance buildings.
EPCOR's Rio Verde system has about 3,100 service connections and draws groundwater from five wells, 160 to 697 feet deep, in the northeast part of the community. It's disinfected with chlorine, and EPCOR's report lists hardness of 11 to 14 grains per gallon, enough to build scale in commercial water heaters, ice machines and dish machines. The report also notes low levels of naturally occurring arsenic below the federal standard. EPCOR keeps a service line inventory for the system at epcor.com/safety, and EPCOR Customer Care is 1-800-383-0834. Wastewater service for Rio Verde wasn't confirmed, so check your bill or HOA records before planning sewer work.
EPCOR's Cross Connection Control Department makes the customer responsible for backflow assemblies. They're tested every year, at installation and after a repair or relocation, by a certified tester, with reports due within 30 days, and they generally sit within 36 inches of the meter (480-450-2077). Golf course irrigation and pool fill lines are typical places these assemblies show up. Maricopa County Planning and Development (602-506-3301) handles permits; like-for-like plumbing repairs use a web-issued permit.
Rio Verde and Rio Verde Foothills are different
| Topic | Rio Verde community | Rio Verde Foothills |
|---|---|---|
| Water | EPCOR Rio Verde system, fed by EPCOR wells | Not on that system; has relied on hauled water from a standpipe on 176th Street |
| Backflow rules | EPCOR cross-connection program | Depends on how the property is supplied |
| Typical commercial calls | Clubhouse, golf and pool facilities | Depends on the property's current water supply |
Signs to act on
- A backflow test due from EPCOR, or a failed result
- Clubhouse kitchen drains slowing after events
- Locker room water heaters running out of hot water
- Scale on faucets, showerheads and ice machines
- Wet areas near the meter or along irrigation supply lines
Seasonal notes
Busy seasons at clubhouses and golf facilities are the worst time for a breakdown, so schedule heater flushing and backflow testing ahead of them. Summer heat wears irrigation valves and backflow parts, and cold desert nights can crack exposed assemblies. No gas utility was confirmed for Rio Verde, and some properties may use propane; for a gas smell, get everyone out, then call 911 and the gas utility or propane supplier from outside.
Commercial Plumbing questions in Rio Verde
How often do commercial backflow assemblies have to be tested here?
What about a business or ranch property that runs on a well or hauled water?
Does our address fall under a town building department or the county?
Do HOAs, apartment owners and property managers use commercial plumbers?
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