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Emergencies & Planned Repairs

Please call the District at (925) 625-3798 to report water emergencies.

In the event of a system-wide emergency, such as an earthquake, we may not be able to field all calls, but we will have all staff deployed in the field to assess and make repairs as needed.


The District operates a pressurized system using pumps, tanks, wells, and over 175 miles of pipeline to deliver water to your home or business 24/7.

We follow an industry-leading 100-year replacement plan for mainlines and infrastructure, as all components will eventually need to be replaced. Despite our best efforts to replace infrastructure proactively, leaks and breaks still happen. Most leaks occur in the spring or during the first rainfall when the ground shifts, leading to unexpected issues in the system.

In emergencies, the District may need to temporarily shut off water service. A service line break may affect only your home, while a water main break can impact entire neighborhoods.


Blue circle with exclamation mark and text about water service ownership and staff authorization.

Scheduled Maintenance and Repairs

Road construction area with heavy machinery and a "ROAD WORK AHEAD" sign on a sunny day.

What to expect during a scheduled repair:

  • Advanced Notification: District staff will notify all impacted homes 24-48 hours in advance of a planned water service interruption.
  • Preparation: Fill buckets with water for flushing toilets and other essential uses.
  • Temporary Repairs: Pavement may have a temporary patch, with permanent repairs usually completed within a month (due to cost considerations).
  • Post-Repair: We flush the system after repairs. (Learn more about flushing here.) After flushing, it is normal to experience discoloration, odor, or notice sediment or debris in your water. If this occurs, run your hose and then faucet indoors using cold water until the water runs clear. Faucets may sputter due to air in the lines, but this should clear up after running the water for a few minutes.
  • Unexpected Emergencies: Even planned maintenance can escalate into an emergency situation. Please see the section on emergency repairs below.

Emergency Repairs

Night roadwork scene with workers, vehicles, and equipment illuminated by bright lights, surrounded by traffic cones.

What to expect during an emergency repair:

  • Customer Notification: District staff will notify all impacted homes as soon as it is safe to do so. If health and safety are at risk, notification may occur after the shutdown.
    • Our staff will knock and leave a door hanger to notify impacted homes.
    • Note: We do not knock after 10 PM in compliance with the City Noise Ordinance.
  • Estimated Time of Water Service Restoration: While we cannot always provide an exact ETA, we typically restore water service within a few hours of shut down. Our office is available 24/7 for updates on estimated time of restoration of service.
  • Temporary Repairs: Pavement may have a temporary patch, with permanent repairs usually completed within a month (due to cost considerations).
  • Post-Repair: We flush the system after repairs. (Learn more about flushing here.) After flushing, it is normal to experience discoloration, odor, or notice sediment or debris in your water. If this occurs, run your hose and then faucet indoors using cold water until the water runs clear. Faucets may sputter due to air in the lines, but this should clear up after running the water for a few minutes.
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