Who to call for water, sewer and gas problems in Covina
In Covina, one of six water suppliers handles the water up to your meter, the City handles local sewer mains, the LA County Sanitation Districts run the big trunk sewers, and you own the sewer lateral. This guide sorts out who to call first.
Call (626) 746-1970Request service
Written and fact-checked by John, editor, MBA in marketing
Updated against City, utility and state sources
Quick answer
Call your water supplier (the name on your bill) for a main break, an outage or a problem at the meter. Call City of Covina Public Works for a City sewer main or street issue. Call SoCalGas from outside for a gas smell. Call a licensed plumber for leaks, clogs, backups and water heaters on your property, including the sewer lateral you own.
- Water suppliers
- Six, check your bill
- Sewer lateral
- Owner maintains it
- Trunk sewers
- LA County Sanitation Districts
- Plumber, 24/7
- (626) 746-1970
Covina water, sewer and utility contacts in one table
Here is every number most Covina households need for water, sewer, gas, electric and permit problems, with what each organization actually handles.
Covina is unusual because water service is split six ways. The City of Covina Water Division serves about 33,300 people. The rest of the city gets water from Suburban Water Systems, Golden State Water, Valencia Heights Water Company, Azusa Light & Water or Glendora Water. Sewer is split too: the City owns the local mains under neighborhood streets, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts own the large trunk sewers, and the homeowner owns the lateral between the house and the main.
We checked each number below against the organization's own website or published documents in fall 2026. Numbers change, so if one does not connect, look it up on that agency's site. All of these are plain text on purpose. The only number on this site that dials directly is ours.
| Organization | Call them for | Number and details |
|---|---|---|
| City of Covina Water Division | Water service for City customers: main breaks, no water, meter problems, water quality | 626-384-5220. Office 534 N Barranca Ave. Water quality questions: 626-384-5232. Billing (Finance Division): 626-384-5230. |
| Suburban Water Systems | Water service for Suburban customers in Covina | 626-543-2640 or 626-543-2500. 1325 N Grand Ave, Suite 100, Covina. |
| Golden State Water (San Dimas system) | Water service for Golden State customers | 800-999-4033. 115 to 121 Exchange Pl, San Dimas. |
| Valencia Heights Water Company | Water service for Valencia Heights customers | 626-332-8935. 3009 E Virginia Ave, West Covina. |
| Azusa Light & Water | Water service for Azusa Light & Water customers | 626-812-5063 (main line 626-812-5225). 729 N Azusa Ave, Azusa. |
| City of Glendora Water | Water service for Glendora Water customers | 626-852-4838. 1051 E Sierra Madre Ave, Glendora. |
| City of Covina Public Works | City sewer mains, streets, parkway trees, sidewalk uplift | 626-384-5220. 125 E College St. Mon to Thu 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Fridays. Also the Covina At Your Service app. |
| LA County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) | Large regional trunk sewers that carry flow from City mains to treatment | Regional agency. Most homeowners never need to call them; a trunk problem usually reaches them through the City. |
| City water waste line (Environmental Services) | Reporting water running down a street, broken sprinklers, watering on the wrong day | 626-384-5480. Include address, date, time and photos if you can. |
| City of Covina Building & Safety | Plumbing permits and inspections | 626-384-5460. 125 E College St. Mon to Thu 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed 1 to 2 p.m. Permits in person; inspections requested by email. |
| SoCalGas | Gas smell, gas leak, damaged gas line | 1-800-427-2200. Leave first and call from outside. Call 911 if anyone is in danger. |
| Southern California Edison (SCE) | Downed power lines, electrical hazards | Call 911 for a downed wire. Stay well away from it. |
| 811 | Marking buried utility lines before any digging | Call 811 at least two business days before you dig. |
| Plumber Covina CA (us) | Leaks, clogs, sewage backups, water heaters, gas lines, the sewer lateral and anything on your side of the meter | (626) 746-1970, answered 24/7. 601 E Edna Pl, Covina, CA 91723. |
How to tell which water supplier serves your Covina address
The supplier's name is printed on your water bill, and that is the quickest and most reliable way to know who to call.
The City publishes a list of the six purveyors that serve Covina, along with a service area map. The map does not translate cleanly to street boundaries in text, and we would rather send you to the right agency than guess. Use one of these instead:
Read the bill
The company name and its customer service number are at the top. If you pay the City of Covina for water, the City Water Division is your supplier.
Look at the meter lid
Meter box lids at the curb are often stamped with the utility's name or initials.
Ask the landlord or property manager
Renters often never see a water bill. The owner or manager will know.
Call the City if you are still unsure
Call 626-384-5220 with your address. The City knows whether you are one of its roughly 8,500 connections.
Knowing the supplier matters for more than emergencies. Each one publishes its own water quality report, and hardness differs. City water averaged 230 mg/L in 2025, about 13.5 grains per gallon, while Golden State's San Dimas system averaged about 205 mg/L. Our Covina water suppliers and hardness guide has the full numbers.
Who to call first, by problem
Call the utility first when the problem is in the street, at the meter or involves gas or power lines; call a plumber first when the problem is inside the house or in its drain lines.
| What you see | Call first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Water gushing from the street, gutter or parkway | Your water supplier | A plumber only if the supplier says the leak is on your side of the meter |
| No water, and neighbors are out too | Your water supplier | Nothing, unless service returns to neighbors but not to you |
| No water at your house only | Check your main shutoff and meter, then call your supplier | A plumber if the supplier confirms water is reaching the meter |
| Burst pipe or leak inside the house | Close your main shutoff, then call a plumber | Your supplier only if you cannot get the water off |
| City notice that you have a leak | A plumber, right away | Tell the City when it is fixed; at Level 2 the deadline is 48 hours |
| Sewage coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain | A plumber | Public Works if neighbors have the same problem or a street manhole is overflowing |
| Sewage overflowing from a manhole in the street | City of Covina Public Works, 626-384-5220 | Keep people and pets away; call 911 after hours if it threatens health or property |
| Roots in the sewer line | A plumber | Public Works only for a City parkway tree hazard; the lateral is still yours |
| Gas smell indoors or outdoors | Leave, then SoCalGas 1-800-427-2200 from outside | 911 if anyone is in danger; a plumber for repairs after SoCalGas makes it safe |
| No hot water | A plumber | SoCalGas only if every gas appliance in the house is out |
| Downed power line near water or a pool | 911 | Stay far away; SCE handles the line |
| Water wasted on a neighbor's property or a business | The City water waste line, 626-384-5480 | Nothing else needed |
| Planning to dig a trench for a sewer or gas line | 811, at least two business days before | Building & Safety for the permit |
Where the water supplier's job ends and yours begins
In general, the supplier is responsible for the main and the service line up to the meter, and the pipe from the meter into your house is the owner's.
The City's water page does not spell out the exact ownership point in writing, so confirm with your supplier on a specific leak. In practice, water suppliers own the meter and the pipe on the street side of it. The pipe from the meter to your house, the main shutoff valve, every pipe inside the walls and slab, and every fixture belong to the property owner.
That is also how lead and galvanized line findings work. The City's 2025 water report says its service line inventory found no lead or galvanized service lines requiring replacement in the City system. That covers the City's side. The house side is not part of that finding, and many Covina homes built before 1970 still have older supply pipe inside.
Usually your supplier's
- Water mains under the street
- Service line from the main to the meter
- The meter itself and the meter box
- Water pressure and quality as delivered
Usually yours
- Pipe from the meter to the house
- Main shutoff valve and pressure regulator
- Pipes in walls, attic and slab
- Water heater, fixtures and irrigation
Use your meter to check for a leak
The City's water page says its meters are auto-read units outside the property. Lift the register lid so light reaches the solar cell (a flashlight works) and look for the leak icon. With every tap off, a showing leak icon points to water moving somewhere on your side. You can also read the meter, use no water for a couple of hours, and read it again. Any change means water is going somewhere. Our leak detection service finds hidden and slab leaks before anyone digs.
Who owns which part of the sewer in Covina
The homeowner owns and maintains the sewer lateral from the house to the City main, the City owns the local mains, and the LA County Sanitation Districts own the large trunk sewers.
City of Covina Public Works states that homeowners are responsible for the connection between the house and the sanitary sewer system, including tree roots. The City's tree roots handout goes further: the lateral is the homeowner's all the way to the main, including the section under the parkway, the sidewalk and the street. The City owns parkway trees and says they will not be removed solely because their roots got into a lateral.
| Piece | Owner | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Drains inside the house and the cleanout | Property owner | A plumber |
| Sewer lateral, house to the City main, including under the sidewalk and street | Property owner | A plumber |
| Local sewer mains under neighborhood streets | City of Covina | Public Works, 626-384-5220 |
| Large regional trunk sewers | LA County Sanitation Districts | Through the City; LACSD runs its own projects |
LACSD's District 22 Trunk Sewers Group 4 project, filed in July 2024, covers about 20,736 feet of trunk sewer in Azusa, Covina, Irwindale, San Dimas and West Covina, relined with a cured-in-place liner. That work is on LACSD's public trunk lines only. It does not reline anyone's private lateral. The Covina sewer lateral guide explains what owning a lateral means in practice, and our sewer lateral camera and repair page covers inspection and repair.
Leak notices and the water waste line
If the City notifies you of a leak, Covina's municipal code gives you a set number of hours to repair it, and under the current Level 2 shortage that is 48 hours.
The City has been at a Level 2 water supply shortage since August 4, 2022, for City water customers. Under Chapter 13.06 of the Covina Municipal Code, leaks must be fixed within a deadline after City notice, and the deadline gets shorter as the shortage level rises. The City's water page also asks you to isolate and shut off the leaking area when you can.
| Status | Repair deadline |
|---|---|
| No shortage declared | 5 days |
| Level 1 | 72 hours |
| Level 2 (in effect since August 4, 2022) | 48 hours |
| Level 3 | 48 hours |
| Level 4 | 24 hours |
To report waste you see, such as a broken sprinkler running into the gutter, call the Environmental Services water waste line at 626-384-5480 or email the City, with the address, date, time and a photo. For the full watering schedule (Wednesday and Saturday from April to October, Wednesday only from November to March, never between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.), see our Covina water rules and leak deadlines guide.
Permits: City of Covina or LA County
Homes inside Covina city limits get plumbing permits from City Building & Safety at 125 E College St; homes in unincorporated areas such as Charter Oak go through LA County Public Works.
The City counter is open Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed 1 to 2 p.m. There is no online permit portal, so permits are pulled in person, and most plumbing permits are issued while you wait. Inspections are requested by email. Every water heater replacement needs a permit under the City's Handout #12.
A Covina mailing address does not always mean City of Covina. ZIP 91724 includes Charter Oak, an unincorporated community where County rules apply. LA County Building and Safety, part of LA County Public Works, serves unincorporated communities. Its Mechanical and Plumbing section is listed at 626-458-3182, and headquarters is at 900 S Fremont Ave in Alhambra. Our Charter Oak page covers that area, and the Covina plumbing permit guide walks through the City process.
What to do after hours in Covina
After hours, shut off water or gas yourself first, then call the right party: SoCalGas for gas, 911 for immediate danger, and a 24/7 plumber for everything on your property.
Most City offices in Covina are open Monday to Thursday and closed on Fridays. The City's water page does not publish a separate after-hours water line, so if a street main break is flooding property or creating a traffic hazard and you cannot reach your supplier, call 911. For problems inside your property, these steps limit the damage:
- Know where your main water shutoff is. In many homes it is near a front hose bib or where the line enters the house.
- Close the cold inlet valve on top of the water heater if the tank is leaking.
- Close the toilet's angle stop behind the bowl if it is overflowing.
- Stop running water in the house if any drain is backing up.
- Leave the house and call SoCalGas from outside if you smell gas.
- Take photos for insurance before cleanup, if it is safe.
We answer (626) 746-1970 24 hours a day and give you an honest arrival window. Our 24/7 emergency plumber page covers what we handle at night, from burst pipes to sewage backups.
Water where it shouldn't be? Call now.
A real person answers 24 hours a day. You get an honest arrival window and a written price before any work starts.
Questions Covina homeowners ask
Who do I call for a water main break in Covina?
Call your water supplier, the company named on your bill. For City of Covina customers that is 626-384-5220. Suburban, Golden State, Valencia Heights, Azusa Light & Water and Glendora each have their own line, listed in the table above.
Who is responsible for the sewer line from my house to the street in Covina?
You are. City of Covina Public Works says the property owner maintains the sewer lateral from the house to the City main, including tree roots and the section under the sidewalk and street. See our sewer lateral guide.
How do I know which water company serves my house in Covina?
Look at your water bill. Six suppliers serve Covina, and the company name is printed at the top. Renters can ask the landlord. If you are still unsure, call the City Water Division at 626-384-5220 with your address.
What should I do if I smell gas in Covina?
Leave right away, without using switches or a phone inside. Once outside, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200. Call 911 if anyone is in danger. A plumber can repair the line after SoCalGas makes it safe.
Who do I call about sewage coming out of a manhole in my street?
Call City of Covina Public Works at 626-384-5220. Local sewer mains are the City's. Keep people and pets away from the overflow. If it is after hours and threatens health or property, call 911.
How long do I have to fix a leak after a City notice?
48 hours under the Level 2 shortage in effect since August 4, 2022. The deadline is 5 days with no shortage, 72 hours at Level 1 and 24 hours at Level 4. Our water rules guide has details.
Do I get a plumbing permit from Covina or LA County?
Inside Covina city limits, from City Building & Safety at 125 E College St, in person. In unincorporated Charter Oak and other County areas, from LA County Building and Safety. Our permit guide explains both.
Who do I call to report water waste in Covina?
Call the City's Environmental Services water waste line at 626-384-5480. Include the address, date and time, and a photo if you can.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources, checked November 1, 2026.
- City of Covina: Water purveyors servicing Covina
- City of Covina Water Division
- City of Covina Public Works
- City of Covina: Tree Roots and Sewer Laterals
- City of Covina 2025 Consumer Confidence Report
- CEQAnet: District 22 Trunk Sewers Group 4 Rehabilitation Project (LACSD)
- City of Covina Handout #14: Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Permits
- City of Covina Handout #12: Water Heaters
- LA County Public Works: About Building and Safety
- SoCalGas: emergency information
- Zip-Codes.com: Covina ZIP codes
- City of Covina 6th Cycle Housing Element