Scottsdale Water operates the city's wastewater system, which covers most of the city, and the drain line leaving each home is a private repair handled by a plumber. A few parts of Scottsdale aren't on municipal sewer at all. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
Sewer service in Scottsdale
The city's wastewater service area lines up closely with the city boundary. Flows are treated at the Scottsdale Water Campus Water Reclamation Facility and at the regional 91st Avenue plant, where Scottsdale owns capacity, and a small area on the east side near Cactus Road drains to Fountain Hills Sanitary District facilities. Some parts of the city remain unsewered, so not every home connects to a public main. Scottsdale Water's general and emergency line is 480-312-5650. Census figures put Scottsdale's median home at about 1990, so there's a mix of older cast iron and clay lines in established neighborhoods and plastic pipe in newer ones.
What to do right now
- Stop using water. Every flush and every load of laundry adds to whatever is backing up.
- Check whether neighbors have the same problem or a manhole is overflowing. If so, call Scottsdale Water at 480-312-5650.
- If it's just your house, find the outdoor cleanout and make sure the plumber can reach it.
- Keep people and pets away from any sewage, and wash hands after touching anything wet. Bag up soaked rugs or towels rather than running them through the washer, which would only send more water down the drain.
- Call to be connected with a local plumber, and describe which fixtures are affected.
If your property is in one of the unsewered parts of the city, the plumber can still work on the drain line from the house to the onsite system, but the onsite system itself is a separate specialty.
Symptoms and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Shower or tub fills when a toilet flushes | Blockage in the main building sewer |
| Clogs return a few weeks after clearing | Roots or a broken joint catching debris |
| Gurgling from several drains | Partial blockage or venting problem downstream |
| Soggy or sunken spot along the line | Cracked or separated pipe leaking into the soil |
| Recurring backups in an older house | Scaled cast iron or a sagging section |
Cost factors
- Depth and length of the damaged section
- Hardscape, pools and mature landscaping over the line
- Trenchless lining versus excavation and replacement
- Access through an existing cleanout, or the need to add one near the foundation
- Restoring desert landscaping, irrigation lines or decorative rock disturbed by digging
- A city plumbing permit: Scottsdale requires one to install, alter, reconstruct or repair any plumbing system, applied for through the city's SPUR portal
Sewer Line Repair questions in Scottsdale
How do I find out who provides sewer service at my address?
My home isn't on municipal sewer. What sewer work can a plumber still do?
Do I need a permit for a sewer line repair here?
What happens to my yard, pavers or driveway during a sewer repair?
More plumbing services in Scottsdale
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