The City of Black Hawk Water Department supplies drinking water to the entire city, and a leak on the buried line between the meter and your building is generally a private plumbing repair. The city hasn't published where its pipe ends, so call the Water Department if water is surfacing at the meter or in the street. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Black Hawk.
Black Hawk's water system
Black Hawk, the former gold-mining "City of Mills" and now a small casino town along North Clear Creek, runs an unusually elaborate system for its size. The city treats North Clear Creek water and wells and springs up Dory Hill Road at its Dory Hill plant, and Clear Creek water at its Hidden Valley plant near Idaho Springs. Water from Hidden Valley travels about seven miles through three pump stations and over a summit before flowing by gravity to a tank on Miners Road. The city adds soda ash for corrosion control.
Steps to take now
- Close the main shutoff in the building if water is flowing.
- Call the Water Department about water at the meter or in the street: the Water Superintendent is at (303) 582-2246.
- Check the meter. All water off and the meter still moving means a leak.
- Watch the slope. In Gregory Gulch and along the creek, water can surface downhill of the break.
- Ask about permits. Building questions go to [email protected].
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water near the meter or street | Possible city-side leak; call the Water Department |
| Wet ground below the building | Leak in the private line, possibly upslope |
| Pressure low throughout | Buried leak or an older restricted line |
| No water after a hard freeze | Frozen section near the foundation |
| Meter moving with no use | Leak past the meter |
Cost factors
Steep terrain, rock and the tight spacing of restored historic buildings in the Central City/Black Hawk National Historic District can make excavation slow and careful work. Many properties front on narrow streets or sit against hillsides, so access for equipment shapes the job as much as the length of the line. An old line on a historic building that has leaked before is often a candidate for full replacement. Freeze damage at this elevation can reach more than one section. Building services, including inspections and plan review, are provided by SAFEbuilt under contract with the city; its page doesn't name plumbing permits specifically, so confirm requirements before work starts. Restoring stone, concrete and landscaping adds to the total.
Water Line Repair questions in Black Hawk
Should I call the water provider or a plumber first?
Do I need a permit to repair or replace my water service line?
Can the buried water line freeze in a Colorado winter?
When is replacing the whole line better than a spot repair?
More plumbing services in Black Hawk
Water Line Repair nearby
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