Pulaski County · Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metro
Plumbing help in Little Rock, AR
Older PipesFreeze Risk
Little Rock enjoys soft water from Lake Maumelle and Lake Winona. The city's plumbing work is driven by older housing, with about half built before 1980, plus clay soils, storms and the occasional ice storm.
- Median home built
- 1978
- Built before 1980
- 53%
- Owner-occupied
- 53%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Occasional hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- IPC
Common repairs in Little Rock homes
- Sewer Line Repair
Older laterals crack and let roots in.
- Frozen Pipe Repair
Ice storms catch pipes in crawl spaces and exterior walls.
- Water Heater Replacement
Heaters in older homes reach end of life.
Emergency plumbing in Little Rock
Call (833) 878-1592Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for Little Rock homes, based on local conditions.
Little Rock's 1970s housing and its pipes
The median home in Little Rock was built in 1978, and 53% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with copper supply, early plastic (ABS or PVC) drains, some cast iron.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Which plumbing rules apply in Little Rock
Plumbing in Little Rock follows the Arkansas Plumbing Code (based on the 2018 IPC), and plumbers are licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health. [2]
Where Little Rock's water comes from
Central Arkansas Water's supply from Lake Maumelle and Lake Winona is soft, at about 1.0 to 1.7 grains per gallon (17 to 29 mg/L). [1]
When Little Rock gets a hard freeze
Occasional hard freezes · 53% of Little Rock homes were built before 1980
Plumbing services for Little Rock homes
Little Rock plumbing questions
Is Little Rock water hard?
No. Central Arkansas Water reports about 1.0 to 1.7 grains per gallon, which is soft.
Where does Little Rock's water come from?
Lake Maumelle and Lake Winona, treated at the Ozark Point and Jack H. Wilson plants.
How do I check a Little Rock plumber?
Verify the license with the Arkansas Department of Health's Plumbing and Natural Gas Section.
How do I protect pipes in an Arkansas ice storm?
Insulate crawl-space pipes, close foundation vents, disconnect hoses and drip faucets during hard freezes.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Central Arkansas Water, FAQs · checked 2026-10-01
- Arkansas Department of Health, plumbing rules · checked 2026-10-01