Emergency Plumbing in San Diego, CA

Who to call in San Diego

Leaks on the street side of the water meter, a broken main or no water on the whole street are for the water utility: in San Diego that is City of San Diego Public Utilities. Check its website or your water bill for its emergency line.

Leaks, backups and failures on your side of the meter, inside the house or in your sewer lateral, are a plumber's job. Call us and we connect you with an independent, licensed plumbing company that handles emergency calls in San Diego; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.

Reporting a water emergency in San Diego

• San Diego Public Utilities asks customers to report a water leak, sewer spill, or water pressure issue by calling 619-515-3525. Irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution is reported through the Get It Done app or 619-235-1000, and account questions go to 619-515-3500. [3]
• San Diego Public Utilities says the property owner maintains the water system from the meter, and the sewer lateral all the way to the City main. If a licensed plumber finds a break-in or collapse of the lateral beyond the property line, the plumber should call the City's Sewer Emergency Line at 619-515-3525 to file a Plumber's Report, and the City will investigate within 24 hours. [4]
• The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department asks residents to report a water leak, sewer spill, or water pressure issue by calling 619-515-3525. Irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution is reported separately through the Get It Done app or 619-235-1000, and questions about a water or wastewater account go to 619-515-3500. [3]
• San Diego Public Utilities states that the property owner is responsible for maintaining any portion of the water system from the meter onward, and for the sewer lateral from the property all the way to the connection with the sewer main. Under the California Plumbing Code, a pressure regulator is required where area pressure exceeds 80 psi, and regulators are the owner's responsibility. [4]

Other common plumbing calls in San Diego

• Water Heater Repair: at roughly 13 grains per gallon, sediment and scale shorten tank life and cause rumbling and lost capacity.
• Tankless Water Heaters: tankless heat exchangers scale quickly in water this hard, so regular descaling matters.
• Water Softener Installation: many households soften to protect water heaters, fixtures and appliances, subject to local rules on brine discharge.

San Diego facts behind this page

• San Diego historically imports 80% to 90% of its water from the Colorado River and Northern California. In 2024, average hardness at the city's treatment plants was about 12.6 to 13.4 grains per gallon (Alvarado, Miramar and Otay). [1]
• The median home in San Diego was built in 1980. [2]
• About 50% of San Diego's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
• San Diego Public Utilities asks customers to report a water leak, sewer spill, or water pressure issue by calling 619-515-3525. Irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution is reported through the Get It Done app or 619-235-1000, and account questions go to 619-515-3500. [3]
• San Diego Public Utilities says the property owner maintains the water system from the meter, and the sewer lateral all the way to the City main. If a licensed plumber finds a break-in or collapse of the lateral beyond the property line, the plumber should call the City's Sewer Emergency Line at 619-515-3525 to file a Plumber's Report, and the City will investigate within 24 hours. [4]
• The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department asks residents to report a water leak, sewer spill, or water pressure issue by calling 619-515-3525. Irrigation runoff or storm drain pollution is reported separately through the Get It Done app or 619-235-1000, and questions about a water or wastewater account go to 619-515-3500. [3]
• San Diego Public Utilities states that the property owner is responsible for maintaining any portion of the water system from the meter onward, and for the sewer lateral from the property all the way to the connection with the sewer main. Under the California Plumbing Code, a pressure regulator is required where area pressure exceeds 80 psi, and regulators are the owner's responsibility. [4]