Water Line Repair in Arvada, CO

Which part of the line is mine to fix in Arvada?

City Code 102.76 makes property owners responsible for the portion of the service line on their property. In practice, the City of Arvada owns the pipe from the main to the meter pit, and you own it from the pit to the home's foundation. Most of Arvada gets water from the city, but a few areas inside city limits are served by other providers, including Ralston Valley Water and Sanitation District, Consolidated Mutual Water Company, North Table Mountain Water and Denver Water. If your bill comes from one of them, its rules apply instead. For a main break or a leak at the meter, the city's line is 720-898-7070.

Does Arvada have rules about old service line materials?

Yes. Lead and pre-1960 galvanized water service lines are prohibited in Arvada's system. The city runs a Service Line Inventory and Replacement Program to find and replace any remaining customer-owned lead or pre-1960 galvanized lines; it does not cover plumbing inside the house. So far the inventory has found mostly copper and no lead. If your line is listed as unknown, the city asks you to contact it. That matters because Arvada's housing is middle-aged: the median home was built in 1979, and about 53% went up before 1980, many during the city's growth after World War II. A home from the 1950s around Olde Town Arvada may be worth checking before anyone digs, since the program could change who pays for the work.

What permits and contractors does the work need?

The city requires a permit for water service installation, repair or disconnection. Building Services sits at 8101 Ralston Road (720-898-7620); contractors with an active Arvada license apply online, and homeowners apply in person at City Hall. There's one wrinkle: work in the public right-of-way requires a City of Arvada General Municipal Contractor's license, while plumbing license holders may pull permits only for work on private property. A leak between the meter pit and the house is private-side work, but a job that reaches into the street needs the right contractor. Confirm that on the first call.

A note on Arvada yards

Many lots in the older parts of Arvada have mature trees whose roots wrap around buried pipe, and the meter pit often sits near the front walk or under shrubs. Keep the pit clear and visible so the plumber and the city can reach it quickly. If the leak is heavy, close the main shutoff inside the house rather than opening the pit yourself.