Plumbers in Laveen, AZ

A Phoenix village south of the Salt River

Laveen Village lies between South Mountain and the Salt River in the southwest part of Phoenix, about 7 miles in a straight line from downtown. Phoenix annexed most of it from the mid-1990s on, though some pockets remain under Maricopa County zoning. The area grew up around farms, dairies and horse property, and that rural feel is still deliberately protected near 51st Avenue, Dobbins Road and Baseline Road, while the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway has brought new subdivisions. ZIP 85339 had about 56,000 residents in recent Census survey data, and only around 7 percent of its homes were built before 1980.

City of Phoenix water and sewer

Laveen developments inside the city connect to the City of Phoenix Water Services Department. That water is mostly treated surface water from the Salt, Verde and Colorado rivers with a small share of groundwater from City wells, disinfected with chlorine. The City's water quality report lists total hardness of 172 to 302 ppm (10 to 17.6 grains per gallon), so scale in water heaters, tankless units and shower valves is a real maintenance item, and many Laveen homes have softeners.

Laveen sewer mains flow to the City's 91st Avenue wastewater treatment plant. Phoenix makes property owners responsible for the water and sewer lines that run across their lot to the City mains. Main breaks, service line breaks and sewer emergencies on the public side go to the City at 602-261-8000. The City also keeps a service line material inventory at phoenix.gov/pipes.

A few unincorporated parcels may be served differently and may not be on City sewer, so confirm your provider if your property is outside city limits.

Permits, backflow and gas

For Laveen addresses inside Phoenix, plumbing permits come from the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department; its online residential permits include Plumbing Repipe, Minor Plumbing Work and Repair/Replace Gas Line. County-island parcels outside city limits go to Maricopa County instead. The Phoenix backflow program requires assemblies to be tested at installation, repair or relocation and at least annually by a certified tester on the City's list.

Phoenix directs gas emergencies to Southwest Gas, and some Laveen homes use propane. If you smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020 from outside; on propane, call 911 and your propane supplier.

What is different about plumbing in Laveen

Utilities and permits are the same as the rest of Phoenix, but the housing is much newer than in central neighborhoods, so galvanized supply lines are rare and most calls involve water heaters, slab leaks, softeners and drains. When you call, mention whether you are inside city limits and what is happening, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who covers Laveen and quotes the job directly.