Water Leaks, Main Breaks and No Water in San Diego

This guide is for City of San Diego water customers. If your water bill comes from another agency, see who to call below.

The City's brochure defines a water emergency as "water flowing from the ground or a pipe causing flooding, soil erosion, pavement or structure damage," and lists the hotline for water main breaks, service leaks, valve leaks, hydrant knockovers, high line leaks and pressure problems. What happens when you call, according to the brochure:

• 1. The operator takes your details: your name, phone number, the location, nearby landmarks, a description of the emergency and any damage, then dispatches an emergency service unit.
• 2. The crew protects the area and shuts the water down to isolate the emergency. San Diego Municipal Code section 67.0214 gives the Department authority to shut off the water supply to any premises at any time in an emergency or to make repairs.
• 3. Crews dig up and repair the pipe, place a temporary asphalt patch, flush the pipes and test the water before the system is recharged. The brochure warns there may be heavy equipment noise during night or early-morning repairs.

After the water comes back on, the brochure suggests running your faucets for a couple of minutes to release air and debris, using bathtub, laundry and hose faucets first because they usually have no aerator screens, and cleaning faucet aerators that clog. The brochure dates from 2005 but is still posted on the City's website.

Sewage, not clean water? Sewer spills go to the same number, 619-515-3525. We will cover sewer problems in a separate guide; until then, see the sewer section of our storm drains and flooding guide.

The City says a home's water system connects to a City water main through a water lateral service line via a water meter, and that "The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of any portion of the water system from the meter." San Diego Municipal Code section 67.0230 puts it this way: the Department's jurisdiction and responsibility ends at the meter, and it is not liable for damage from open or faulty fixtures or broken pipes beyond its meter.

Finding your meter. The City says your meter is usually near the curb in front of your home or business, in a direct line with the main outside faucet, in a concrete box usually marked "water." Its diagram notes the meter could also be in an alley or a canyon. To open the box, the City says to pry the lid off with a tool such as a large screwdriver, not your fingers, and to check for insects or animals first.

Signs of a leak at the meter, according to the City:

• Standing water in the meter box, consistently saturated soil, or water flowing from the meter.
• A consistent flow suggests a meter leak. An intermittent flow may be irrigation runoff or a nearby construction project, so check your property and the neighborhood.
• If you need help working out where a leak is coming from, call 619-515-3525.

If a pipe bursts on your side of the meter, the water to stop is on your side too. San Diego Municipal Code section 67.0219 makes it unlawful for anyone laying service pipe on the property side of the meter to fail to install a shut off valve "for the purpose of shutting off the water in case of emergency." Find yours before you need it.

• Use your own valve, not the City's. Section 67.0205 says the shut off valve or curb cock on the City side of the meter is for the Department's exclusive use, and it is unlawful to use it without prior authorization, regardless of intent. Section 67.0213 also makes it unlawful to tamper with a water meter or operate a City water control valve without authorization.
• Plan ahead. A County Office of Emergency Services disaster plan posted on the City's site says to know the location of the main utility cutoff valves in your home and learn how and when to disconnect them, to keep a shutoff wrench for household gas and water, and, if you cannot use the proper tools at the main valves, to turn off the valves under sinks.
• Can't stop it, or water is coming from the City side? Call 619-515-3525.

The City says it does not have diagrams of where water lines run on your property and suggests a licensed plumber for that. Development Services can show where your water line connects to the City main; appointments are at 619-446-5300.

• Pressure problem: call 619-515-3525. The City says a Public Utilities crew member will test the pressure at the fire hydrant nearest your home and report back. Pressure normally fluctuates by plus or minus 10 psi. If your neighborhood's pressure is normal, the City says the problem is most likely in the plumbing on your property.
• Pressure regulators. The City says that under the California Plumbing Code, you must have a pressure regulator if the pressure in your area is above 80 psi, and that regulators are the property owner's responsibility. The most common cause of a sudden pressure increase is a faulty regulator.

Possible causes of low pressure the City lists:

• A regulator on your property that failed in the closed position (a plumber should inspect it).
• Neighbors using more water, if you live in an apartment, condo or business that shares a meter.
• Water main replacement in your neighborhood, while homes are on temporary pipelines.
• Leaks.

No water at all and no advance notice? Call 619-515-3525, the number the City lists for water leaks and water pressure issues.

The City says: "Wasting water is always illegal, even when no drought response levels are in effect." San Diego Municipal Code section 67.3803 lists prohibited water waste, including:

• Irrigation runoff or uncorrected leaks that let water flow onto neighboring property, walkways, roads, parking lots or buildings.
• Failing to repair or stop water leaks upon discovery or within 72 hours of notification by the City.
• Washing down sidewalks, driveways or other paved areas without a power washer or a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
• Irrigating landscapes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., with some exceptions.

• Get It Done: the City says to report water waste through the Get It Done app or website. For sprinkler water reaching the street, use the Over Irrigation form. As of October 29, 2026, it shows an estimated resolution time of 60 days.
• Or call 619-533-5271 or email waterwaste@sandiego.gov.

Who responds: if over-irrigation reaches the gutter, street or a storm drain inlet, the Stormwater Department's enforcement team; all other water waste goes to the Public Utilities Water Waste Team. The City says it emphasizes education and issues citations as a last resort, with administrative citations of $100 to $1,000 and, for continued waste, possible shutoff of water service. A leak running down the street from a City pipe is not water waste: call 619-515-3525.

From the City's Request a Leak Adjustment page, as of October 29, 2026. The page gives two different review times.

You will need:

• The account holder name, service address, phone number and email address.
• The date the leak was discovered and the date repairs were made.
• A copy of the repair invoice or receipt.

Submit it through the City's online leak adjustment form, or call 619-515-3500, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on City holidays. The City warns of possibly longer hold times due to staffing shortages.

Not sure it was a leak? The City's Service Request form can ask for a review of a bill or usage that seems high, a re-read of your meter, or a check on whether the meter is working correctly.

The City's Risk Management Department lists "Water main breaks and flooding" among the types of claims that can be filed against the City. Any claim must be in writing, and "Most claims must be presented to the Risk Management Department no later than six months after the date of the incident or event." Claims can be filed through the City's Public Liability Claims Portal or on the RM-9 claim form; Risk Management no longer accepts first-notice claims by email. Property damage claims require an estimate and photographs. Questions: 619-236-7300.

City Council Policy 400-10 sets how the City handles claims from water main breaks. It says claims are denied if a third party, such as a contractor, or the homeowner or tenant caused the loss, and that the City does not pay for lost business income, bodily injury or general damages under the policy. Filing a claim does not mean the City accepts liability.

For other problems you can report to the City, see our guide to reporting a problem to the City of San Diego. Flooded streets and clogged storm drains are covered in our storm drains and flooding guide.