Plumbers in Arvada, CO

Northwest of Denver, in Jefferson and Adams counties

Arvada spreads across Jefferson and Adams counties northwest of Denver, about 15 miles from downtown in a straight line from its center. The city was incorporated in 1904, once called itself the Celery Capital of the World, and counted 124,402 residents in 2020. Olde Town Arvada remains the historic core, and Wadsworth Boulevard, Ralston Road, Kipling Street and I-76 tie together neighborhoods that grew quickly after World War II.

City water, soft and chlorinated

The City of Arvada serves most addresses, though a few areas inside city limits are on Ralston Valley Water and Sanitation, Valley Water, Clear Creek Sanitation, North Table Mountain Water, Consolidated Mutual or Denver Water; the city's district maps sort it out. Arvada's supply comes from Denver Water's North System through Ralston Reservoir and from Clear Creek water carried by canal to Arvada Reservoir. The Ralston and Arvada treatment plants disinfect with chlorine, and the report lists average hardness around 43 ppm and 65 ppm, which is soft by most standards.

The city owns the water line from the main to the meter pit, and the owner has it from the pit to the foundation. Sewer works the same way: the owner is responsible for the service line all the way to the city main, and the city will not cut, clean or televise a residential sewer line. Wastewater runs through more than 450 miles of city pipe to Metro Water Recovery. Draining a sump pump into the sanitary sewer is prohibited, and flushing wipes or paper towels breaks city code.

Service lines and older homes

Lead and pre-1960 galvanized service lines are not allowed in Arvada's system, and a city inventory and replacement program is tracking down any customer-owned ones that remain; so far it has found mostly copper and no lead. The median home was built in 1979, with about 52% built before 1980, so original drain lines, worn valves and aging water heaters are routine work.

Permits, backflow and gas

Arvada Building Services at 8101 Ralston Road (720-898-7620) issues the Residential Plumbing permit needed before a water heater is replaced; changing the BTU rating by 5% or more counts as a modification. Work on water or sewer service lines in the public right-of-way needs a City of Arvada General Municipal Contractor's license. Every backflow assembly must be tested yearly, with testers filing results on the city's SAMS portal. Xcel Energy supplies gas. If you smell it, leave the building, then call 911 and Xcel at 1-800-895-2999.

How it differs from Denver and what to expect

Denver Water's chloramine supply serves the city of Denver, while most Arvada taps get chlorinated water from Arvada's own plants. For main breaks, the city's line is 720-898-7070. For anything on your side, call the number on this page, describe the problem, and you will be connected with an independent plumber serving Arvada who agrees on cost and timing with you.