Scottsdale Water treats part of each service connection as city-owned and part as customer-owned, and a leak on the customer side is a private plumbing repair. Wet ground, falling pressure and a rising bill are the usual signs. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale in brief
The City of Scottsdale runs its own water utility, with a general and 24-hour emergency number of 480-312-5650. Its service line inventory separates public, city-owned lines from private, customer-owned lines, and the city has been surveying lines installed before 1989. Scottsdale says it does not expect to find lead service lines and is continuing to remove public galvanized lines. For lead questions the city lists 480-312-8732.
Hardness also differs across town. The city's own figures put the hardest water south of Indian School Road and the softest north of Chaparral Road. That scale builds up in water heaters, valves and fixtures, but a buried service line usually fails for other reasons: a joint that let go, soil movement, or a shovel during a landscape or pool project.
What to do right now
- If water is flowing hard, close the main shutoff at the house.
- Turn off the irrigation controller and any pool autofill.
- Check the meter. If it moves with everything off, water is leaving the system past the meter.
- If water is surfacing at the meter box or in the street, call Scottsdale Water at 480-312-5650, since that part may be the city's.
- If the leak is between the meter and the house, call a plumber to locate it before anyone digs.
Symptoms and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Soggy strip between meter and house | Leak in the customer-owned service line |
| Water pooling at the meter box | Meter connection or city-side fitting |
| Pressure low at every fixture | Restricted or leaking service line, or a failing pressure regulator |
| Meter spinning, yard dry | Leak under the slab or inside the house |
| Wet ground near a valve box | Irrigation supply rather than the house line |
What affects the cost
- Distance and depth. A deep setback from the street means a long run of pipe.
- Surface restoration. Pavers, stone, desert landscaping and driveways along the path add work.
- Spot repair versus new line. A single fitting is quicker than replacing an older line, and the median Scottsdale home dates to about 1990.
- Permit. Scottsdale requires a plumbing permit to install, alter or repair a plumbing system, issued through the One Stop Shop.
- Access at the house. Where the line enters through a slab or finished wall takes more care.
Water Line Repair questions in Scottsdale
Who is responsible for the water pipe between the meter and my house?
Do I need a permit to repair or replace my water service line?
Does hard water damage the service line itself?
Will an 811 locate request mark my private water line?
More plumbing services in Scottsdale
Water Line Repair nearby
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