ZIP 91722 is home to 36,111 people and most of residential Covina, but it also reaches into unincorporated county pockets. Before any plumbing job, we confirm two things: who issues the permit and who sends the water bill.
Call (626) 746-1970Request service
Written and fact-checked by John, editor, MBA in marketing
Updated against City, utility and state sources
Covina 91722 is a mostly owner-occupied ZIP of 36,111 people that extends past the city limits. Some addresses with a Covina mailing address are in unincorporated Los Angeles County, so permits come from the County, not City Hall. Your water may come from one of six suppliers. Check the City's jurisdiction map and your water bill, then call (626) 746-1970.
ZIP 91722 is the larger of Covina's two core ZIP codes by people, and it is mostly owner-occupied single-family homes with larger households than the rest of town.
Those numbers come from Zip-Codes.com's summary of the 2020 Census for the whole ZIP area. Compare them with the next ZIP over. Covina 91723, which holds downtown and City Hall, has about 19,653 people on about 2.3 square miles, and more than half its homes are rented. In 91722, about seven in ten homes are owned and households run larger.
That shapes what we fix. Owner-occupied homes get remodeled, so the plumbing inside is often a mix of eras. Bigger households use more hot water and put more load on drains and the sewer lateral. And because the ZIP crosses the city line, the paperwork side of a job changes from street to street. The rest of this page covers each of those, starting with the question most people never think to ask.
Not every Covina mailing address is in the City of Covina: the City says there are 11 county pockets within Covina, and in those pockets Los Angeles County handles building permits and public works.
A ZIP code is a mail route, not a city boundary. The Covina ZIP codes reach past the city limits. Wikipedia, citing the 2010 Census, says about 31,072 residents lived in ZIP codes associated with Covina but outside the city. Wikipedia's list of unincorporated communities in Los Angeles County includes one called Covina Islands, with 19,131 people in 2010.
The City of Covina's own jurisdiction page puts it plainly. It says there are 11 county pockets within Covina proper that are not part of the city. For those properties, Los Angeles County is the agency for planning, building, code enforcement and public works. It also says a Covina address in a county pocket may still be served by Covina Water. So the permit office and the water supplier can point in different directions for the same house.
The City says to search your address on its public GIS map. A gray area means a county address. A colored area with a Covina zone means City of Covina jurisdiction.
The City says Covina addresses are typically not higher than 2999. A higher number is a hint that you may be in the county.
The City says county street signs are blue. Covina signs are standard green and usually carry the Covina logo.
The City points to the County's EPIC LA permit helper, which shows the jurisdiction for an address, and the County Public Works service locator.
The supplier's name on the bill is the only reliable way to know who brings your water.
The places below carry a 91722 ZIP in published listings; we checked each one so we do not guess where the ZIP line falls.
| Place | Published address | Source | House number over 2999? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollenbeck Park and the Parks and Recreation office | 1250 N Hollenbeck Ave, Covina, CA 91722 | City of Covina, Covina Today | No |
| Northview High School | 1016 W Cypress St, Covina, CA 91722 | Covina-Valley Unified | No |
| Fairvalley High School | 758 W Grondahl St, Covina, CA 91722 | Covina-Valley Unified | No |
| Ben Lomond Elementary School | 621 E Covina Blvd, Covina, CA 91722 | Public School Review | No |
| Las Palmas Middle School | 641 N Lark Ellen Ave, Covina, CA 91722 | Public School Review | No |
| Manzanita Elementary School | 4131 N Nora Ave, Covina, CA 91722 | Public School Review | Yes |
| Covina-Valley Children's Center | 4400 N Roxburgh Ave, Covina, CA 91722 | Public School Review | Yes |
| Merwin Elementary School | 16125 Cypress St, Covina, CA 91722 | Public School Review | Yes |
The last three rows are the interesting ones. Numbers like 4131, 4400 and 16125 are well above the 2999 the City gives as a typical top for Covina addresses. That does not prove those blocks are in the county. It is a flag that the neighborhood around them may follow a different numbering system and possibly different rules. If your house number looks like these, check the GIS viewer before you plan permitted work.
Cypress is a good example of why we never assume. Northview High at 1016 W Cypress carries a 91722 ZIP. Cypress Elementary at 351 W Cypress Ave carries 91723. The same street crosses the ZIP line, so a neighbor a few blocks away may have a different ZIP, a different supplier, or both.
Hollenbeck Park at 1250 N Hollenbeck Ave is the easiest 91722 landmark to give us. If you live nearby, tell us which side of the park you are on and the nearest cross street. Hollenbeck Ave runs south from here toward downtown and the parade route covered on our Downtown Covina page.
Most 91722 homes are single-family houses, many built before 1970, that owners have remodeled in pieces, so the pipe in one house can span several decades.
The City's 2024 Housing Element says about two-thirds of Covina's homes were built before 1970 and about 58% are single-family detached houses. It also says code enforcement estimates about 30% of homes need some repair and about 10% need major rehabilitation. Those are citywide figures, but they fit what we see across 91722: houses that owners have lived in and improved over many years.
Remodels usually stop at the walls of the room being redone. A new kitchen gets new copper or PEX to the sink. The pipe in the slab or crawl space, the main shutoff and the sewer lateral often stay original. So the age of the visible fixtures tells you little about the pipe you cannot see.
| Home | Typical supply pipe | Typical drains and lateral | What we check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original pre-1970 house | Galvanized steel or early copper | Cast iron inside; clay or cast iron lateral | Water pressure, lateral camera, main shutoff |
| Pre-1970 house with a kitchen or bath remodel | New pipe in the remodeled room, original elsewhere | Mixed: ABS in the remodel, cast iron elsewhere | Where new pipe joins old, leak signs near the joints |
| House with an added room or garage conversion | Long branch runs to the addition | New drains tied into an old line | Slope and venting on the new drains, permit history |
| Fully repiped house | PEX or copper | Lateral often still original | The lateral, which repipes do not cover |
At about 3.36 people per household, 91722 homes run more showers, laundry loads and dishwasher cycles than the average Covina home in 91723. That shows up in three places. Tank water heaters run out of hot water sooner and work harder. Drains carry more soap, hair and food waste. And the sewer lateral sees more flow, so a partial root blockage turns into a backup faster. When we size a new water heater for a 91722 home, we ask how many people live there and how they use hot water, not just what size the old tank was. Our water heater and tankless water heater pages compare options.
Galvanized steel rusts from the inside. In Covina's hard water, the opening narrows faster. Low pressure at one shower, rusty water after the main is turned back on, and pinhole leaks at threaded joints are the signs. A whole-house repipe replaces it with PEX or copper. Angi's published range for a repipe is $1,500 to $15,000. This is a national estimate, not a quote. Call (626) 746-1970 for an exact quote.
Covina is served by six water suppliers, and the name on your water bill is the only sure way to know which one serves your 91722 address.
The City of Covina publishes a list of the water purveyors that serve Covina. The City's own Water Division serves only part of the city, about 33,300 people. The rest are served by private companies or neighboring cities' water departments. Because 91722 reaches past the city limits, a home here could be on any of several systems.
| Supplier | Phone | Published hardness |
|---|---|---|
| City of Covina Water Division, 534 N Barranca Ave | 626-384-5220 | About 13.5 grains per gallon average (2025 report) |
| Suburban Water Systems, 1325 N Grand Ave Ste 100, Covina | 626-543-2640 | See the supplier's own report |
| Golden State Water, San Dimas system | 800-999-4033 | About 12 grains per gallon, range about 5 to 18 |
| Valencia Heights Water Company | 626-332-8935 | See the supplier's own report |
| Azusa Light and Water | 626-812-5063 | See the supplier's own report |
| Glendora Water | 626-852-4838 | See the supplier's own report |
The City's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report shows City water at an average hardness of 230 mg/L, with a range of 190 to 280. That is about 13.5 grains per gallon, which counts as very hard. Its main supply is filtered San Gabriel River water from Covina Valley Water Company, with water from the Metropolitan Water District's Weymouth plant used in some months. It met state and federal standards. In June 2025, 32 homes were sampled for lead and copper, and none were above action levels.
Hard water leaves scale in tank heaters, tankless heat exchangers, faucet aerators and dishwasher valves. Our water suppliers and hardness guide compares the suppliers in more depth, and our water softener page explains how a softener is sized to your supplier's tested numbers.
The City of Covina has been at a Level 2 water shortage since August 4, 2022. For City water customers, outdoor watering is limited to Wednesday and Saturday from April to October and Wednesday only from November to March, never between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. At Level 2, a leak must be fixed within 48 hours after City notice. Those rules are for City water customers. If your bill comes from another supplier, ask that supplier which rules apply to you. Our Covina water rules guide has the full schedule.
If your 91722 home is in the City of Covina, permits come from Building and Safety at 125 E College St; if it is in a county pocket, Los Angeles County handles building and public works.
The City's Handout #14 says plumbing work needs a permit and that most permits are issued over the counter while you wait. No work may be concealed before it is inspected. For water heaters, Handout #12 took effect January 1, 2026, under the 2025 California Plumbing Code. It requires a permit for every replacement, done by a C-36 contractor or an approved owner-builder. The heater needs two seismic straps, 1 1/4 inch and 16-gauge, in the upper and lower thirds, with the bottom strap at least 4 inches above the controls. The relief drain runs outside and ends 6 to 24 inches above grade. A gas shutoff, approved flex connector, sediment trap and drain pan are required, and a garage heater sits on an 18-inch stand.
The steps are different and so is the office. We confirm jurisdiction with the County's tools before quoting, because the permit path can change the schedule. Either way, you get a written price before work starts. Our Covina plumbing permits guide covers the City process in detail, and our Charter Oak page covers the largest unincorporated community next to Covina.
In the City of Covina, the property owner maintains the sewer lateral from the house to the public main, including tree root problems, and that is where most 91722 backups start.
The City of Covina Public Works Department says the owner is responsible for the lateral. On an older 91722 lot, that pipe often runs under a front lawn and past a mature tree. Roots find the joints in clay or cast iron pipe and grow inside until the line fills. With larger households sending more water down the line, a partial blockage turns into a backup in the lowest drain of the house.
Regional trunk sewers belong to Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, which has been relining about 20,736 feet of trunk sewer. Local mains in City streets belong to the City. The lateral is yours. Our sewer lateral guide explains each piece.
Published estimates from Angi (2026) put a sewer camera inspection at $275 to $1,800 and hydro jetting at $350 to $600 per line. HomeAdvisor (2025) lists main line clearing at $100 to $800. Angi puts sewer line replacement at $1,388 to $5,323. These are national ranges, not our prices. Call (626) 746-1970 for an exact quote. See our sewer lateral camera and repair and drain cleaning pages.
The fastest way to find out whether a 91722 home has a hidden leak is the meter test: read the meter, use no water for two hours, and read it again.
The EPA's WaterSense program recommends that test and estimates household leaks can waste more than 9,300 gallons a year. If the meter moved, water is going somewhere. In an older house, the usual suspects are a toilet flapper, a buried yard line, an irrigation valve or a supply line under the floor.
Where your meter is depends on your supplier. Most are in a box near the curb. If you are not sure, the supplier on your bill can tell you. If the City sends a leak notice, remember the Level 2 deadline for City customers is 48 hours. Our leak detection page explains how we find leaks without tearing up the house. Published estimates from HomeAdvisor via Angi (2024) put slab leak detection at $150 to $600 and slab leak repair at $630 to $4,400. Call (626) 746-1970 for an exact quote.
Lateral backups, water heaters worked hard by larger households, galvanized pipe and hidden leaks make up most of our 91722 calls.
Roots in older clay or cast iron laterals. Cleared, put on camera and explained with video.
Tanks that run out too fast or leak at the base, replaced to Handout #12 or County rules.
Galvanized pipe narrowed by rust and hard water scale.
A meter that keeps moving, a warm floor or a yard that stays wet.
Running toilets and worn faucets in busy family bathrooms. See toilets and faucets.
Connector swaps and new lines for ranges, dryers and heaters. See our gas line plumber page.
Before buying in 91722, confirm the jurisdiction and the water supplier, then camera the lateral and check the supply pipe and water heater.
The U.S. Department of Energy says tank water heaters typically last 10 to 15 years. Angi's published range for a tank replacement is $600 to $2,500 (2025), and tankless installs run $1,404 to $3,901 (2026). These are national estimates. Call (626) 746-1970 for an exact quote. Our plumbing costs guide has more.
In 91722 the right agency depends on whether you are in the city or a county pocket and on which supplier bills you for water.
| Problem | City of Covina address | County pocket address |
|---|---|---|
| Backup inside the house or at your cleanout | A licensed plumber, (626) 746-1970 | A licensed plumber, (626) 746-1970 |
| Sewage from a manhole in the street | City of Covina Public Works, 626-384-5220 | Los Angeles County Public Works |
| Leak at the meter or in the street | The supplier on your bill | The supplier on your bill |
| Permit questions | Building and Safety, 626-384-5460 | Los Angeles County, via EPIC LA |
| Gas smell | SoCalGas from outside, 1-800-427-2200; 911 if danger | SoCalGas from outside, 1-800-427-2200; 911 if danger |
| Digging in the yard | Call 811 two business days ahead | Call 811 two business days ahead |
Our who to call guide has every number in one place. If water is pouring in right now, see our 24/7 emergency plumber page or just call. Work is performed by independent CSLB-licensed C-36 plumbing contractors, with a written price before work starts and an honest arrival window.
We also cover Covina 91723, Covina 91724 and the nearby cities.
A real person answers 24 hours a day. You get an honest arrival window and a written price before any work starts.
No. The City of Covina says there are 11 county pockets within Covina that are not part of the city, and the 91722 ZIP extends past the city limits. In those pockets, Los Angeles County handles building permits and public works. Check the City's GIS viewer or the County's EPIC LA tool.
Search your address on the City's GIS viewer: gray means county, a colored Covina zone means city. The City also says Covina addresses are typically not above 2999, and county street signs are blue while Covina signs are green with the City logo.
Look at your water bill. Covina is served by six suppliers: City of Covina Water, Suburban Water Systems, Golden State Water, Valencia Heights Water Company, Azusa Light and Water, and Glendora Water. The City says a county pocket address may still be on Covina Water.
It depends on jurisdiction. City of Covina addresses get permits in person from Building and Safety at 125 E College St, where most are issued over the counter. County pocket addresses go through Los Angeles County. We confirm which before quoting.
In the City of Covina, the property owner maintains the sewer lateral from the house to the public main, including tree roots, according to City Public Works. In a county pocket, ask Los Angeles County Public Works. See our sewer lateral guide.
The 91722 ZIP area had 36,111 residents at the 2020 Census, in about 10,366 housing units on about 4.1 square miles. About 70% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, and households average about 3.36 people.
Yes. The City of Covina lists its Parks and Recreation office at Hollenbeck Park as 1250 N Hollenbeck Ave, Covina, CA 91722. It is a handy landmark to give us when you call.
They apply to City of Covina water customers. Under the Level 2 shortage in effect since August 4, 2022, City customers water on set days only, never 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and must fix leaks within 48 hours of notice. Other suppliers set their own rules.
Facts on this page come from these public sources, checked November 1, 2026.