Having water when and where we need it is something most people take for granted. When a household pipe breaks or a faucet will not turn off, it can be a very frustrating and stressful experience. That’s why it’s important to be prepared and understand your personal plumbing system. CCWD’s responsibility for water service and infrastructure maintenance only extends to your home’s meter box and the meter inside it. All maintenance and repairs to plumbing between the meter and the home are the customer’s responsibility.

Here are some tips to help you deal with household plumbing emergencies:
If you discover a cracked or broken pipe in your home, look to see if there is a water shut-off valve near the trouble’s source. Some possible locations for valves are:

• Water heater: Most valves are located at the top of the tank. Prior to draining the tank, be sure to shut off the gas or electricity to the water heater. Note: in a disaster, such as an earthquake or flood, the water heater can be a valuable source of clean drinking water.
• Bathroom : Look for valves beneath sinks and on toilet water supply lines.
• Kitchen: Check below the sink for control valves regulating the hot and cold water supply lines.

If a shut-off valve cannot be located near the source of the trouble, find and turn off the main customer water shut-off valve, which is usually located on the customer’s side of the meter inside or near the meter box. The meter box is usually located at the property line near the street. Valves can also be located where the water enters a home or garage. Turning off this valve will shut off all the water to your property and home.

If you plan to be away for a long period of time, it’s advisable to shut off the main water supply to your household. Nothing ruins a vacation like coming home to find the carpets damp and mildewed because a pipe broke while you were gone. If you do turn off the master valve for a long period, remember to turn off the electric or gas supply to the water heater, too.

The District does not allow the customer to turn the water off using the shut off valve on the District’s side of the meter. The District advises you to know where your main water shut-off valve is in your personal plumbing system and know how to turn it off in the event of an emergency.

If you live at a high elevation and it snows during the winter months, the District advises you drive a 4-foot stake into the ground next to your meter. This will enable you, or District staff, to locate your meter quickly once it is covered with snow.

To report a leak at any time, please call the District at (209) 754-3543. If possible, please have the address of the closest home/lot near the leak and a description of the leak, for example the asphalt is wet, the water is bubbling, or water is shooting up.

If you call during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) a customer service representative will take the information and send a work order to our field staff to assess the leak.

If you call after business hours, the District’s 24/7 live answering service will page the on-call staff.  The on-call staff member may go directly to the leak site or may call you for additional information.

Important note: District staff determines the severity of leaks when they are reported and schedules repairs based on priority. Many of the District’s water lines are more than 50 years old, and there are numerous leaks in these old and failing systems. We appreciate your patience if your leak is not repaired right away.