Water Emergency Contacts for Boulder, CO

Before you need these numbers

• Find your main water shutoff today. It is usually where the water line enters the house, often in the basement, crawl space or utility room.
• Make sure everyone in the house, and any house-sitter, knows where it is and how to turn it.
• Sign up for Boulder County emergency alerts at BoCo911Alert.com.
• Save these numbers in your phone under a name you will find fast, like “Emergency: water”.

Sources: Xcel Energy, City of Boulder Utilities, FEMA. Check each agency's website for changes.

The first 15 minutes, in order

1. Get people safe. If water is rising fast, near the electrical panel, or coming in with storm runoff, get everyone out and call 911 if anyone is in danger.
2. Shut off the water. Close the main valve or the shutoff closest to the leak. Every minute it runs adds gallons.
3. Cut power to wet areas, but only from a dry spot. If you would have to stand in water to reach the breaker, don't. Call Xcel Energy instead.
4. Call the right number. Use the list above: gas, power, City Utilities, or water damage cleanup.
5. Take photos before you move anything. The insurance documentation checklist walks you through what to capture.

How to shut off your water

Your main shutoff is usually on the line that enters the house, close to where it comes through the foundation. In older Boulder homes it is often in the basement or crawl space, and in newer ones it may be in a utility closet or garage.

• Round wheel handle (gate valve): turn it clockwise until it stops. Older wheels can be stiff, so turn firmly but don't force it hard enough to snap the stem.
• Straight lever (ball valve): turn it a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe instead of along it.
• Fixture shutoffs: toilets, sinks, the dishwasher, the fridge line and the washing machine each have a small valve nearby. If the leak is from one of these, you can close just that valve and keep water running to the rest of the house.
• Water heater: the cold inlet valve is on the top. Close it if the tank itself is leaking, and turn the heater off or to pilot before draining.

If you can't find or turn your main, City of Boulder Utilities can shut water off at the curb.

Water emergency contacts: who handles what

It saves time to know which call fixes which problem.

• City Utilities handles the public side: water mains, the curb stop and the city sewer main. If neighbors also have problems, or water is coming up from the street, start there.
• A plumber fixes the broken pipe, valve or fixture inside your property.
• Water damage cleanup deals with what the water left behind: extraction, drying, moisture readings and removing materials that can't be saved. A plumber fixes the leak. We handle the water damage.

Pipes on your side of the curb stop are usually the owner's responsibility. If you are not sure which side a problem is on, City Utilities can tell you.

Stay safe around water and power

Water and electricity are the biggest risk in a flooded room. Stay out of standing water that touches outlets, extension cords, baseboard heaters or appliances. Don't unplug anything while you are standing in water. Treat any line that is down outside as live. If you smell gas after a flood, leave first and call Xcel from outside or a neighbor's home.

Make a one-page home emergency card

Print a single sheet and tape it inside a kitchen cabinet or near the main shutoff. Include the location of the water main and the electrical panel, the numbers on this page, your insurance company's claims line and your policy number, and a trusted neighbor's number. Anyone looking after the house, from a teenager to a house-sitter, can act on it without calling you first.

Emergency contacts FAQ

Who do I call first when a pipe bursts?

Shut the water off first. Then call for cleanup to get the water out and drying started, and a plumber to repair the pipe. If the break is in the street or at the meter, call City Utilities.

Is City Utilities open at night?

Yes. Calls to 303-441-3200 after hours, on weekends and on holidays go to on-call staff.

Can water damage cleanup come out on a holiday?

Yes. Calls are answered every day of the year, with no after-hours charge.

Documenting damage for a claim? Use the insurance documentation checklist, or explore more free tools.