Black Hawk's Water Department supplies the whole city from two of its own treatment plants, and commercial buildings here are mostly casinos, restaurants and restored historic structures with heavy plumbing loads. The city contracts SAFEbuilt for its Building Division. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Black Hawk.
Black Hawk's system
Black Hawk is a former gold-mining town known as the City of Mills, now a small casino town of restored historic buildings along North Clear Creek, sharing a National Historic District with Central City. The City of Black Hawk Water Department serves the entire city, residents and visitors alike. It treats water at two plants: Dory Hill, which uses membrane filtration on North Clear Creek water and wells and springs up Dory Hill Road, and Hidden Valley, which treats Clear Creek water near I-70 east of Idaho Springs. Water from Hidden Valley travels a roughly seven-mile pipeline through three pump stations and over a summit before reaching a tank on Miners Road. The city adds soda ash for corrosion control and disinfects with chlorine gas.
What to do first
- Shut the fixture valve, or the main serving the affected area if water is spreading.
- Close off restrooms or drains that are backing up and redirect guests.
- For a problem on the city water system, call the Water Superintendent at 303-582-2246.
- If anyone smells gas, evacuate the area, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
- Document the damage and the time for property managers.
- Call the number on this page for a plumber.
Symptoms in high-traffic buildings
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Restroom fixtures running nonstop | Worn flush valves from constant use |
| Kitchen drains backing up | Grease and food solids in the line |
| Hot water running short at peak times | Heaters undersized for demand or losing capacity |
| Leaks in older sections of a building | Aging piping in restored historic structures |
| Frozen lines after a cold night | Piping along exterior walls at high elevation |
What affects the cost
Scale is the biggest factor in Black Hawk. Casinos and large restaurants have many fixtures, big water heating systems and nonstop use, so even a single repair often has to happen at night or in a narrow window. Historic buildings add access challenges. The City has contracted SAFEbuilt for Building Division services, including inspections and plan review, since 2015; permit questions go to cpdinquiry@cityofblackhawk.org, and the city's page doesn't spell out plumbing permits, so ask early. The fact sheet didn't confirm the city's sewer provider, a backflow program or the gas utility, so ask the city about the first two and keep the gas bill's emergency number posted.
Commercial Plumbing questions in Black Hawk
Can a plumber work before we open or after we close?
Who do we call if a water main or meter problem shuts down the building?
Which office issues plumbing permits for a commercial property?
How should a restaurant keep grease out of the sewer?
More plumbing services in Black Hawk
Commercial Plumbing nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: