Plumbers in Lemon Grove, CA

A small city next to San Diego

Lemon Grove is about 8 miles east of downtown San Diego in a straight line, tucked between State Route 94 and State Route 125. Once a citrus-growing town, it became a general-law city in 1977 and had 27,627 residents at the 2020 Census. It is mostly suburban, centered on Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue where the Big Lemon stands, and the San Diego Trolley Orange Line stops at the Lemon Grove Depot and Massachusetts Avenue stations. The city's motto is "Best Climate on Earth," and mild weather does keep frozen pipes off most to-do lists.

Helix water

Helix Water District supplies Lemon Grove with a blend of water purchased from the San Diego County Water Authority and local runoff from Lake Cuyamaca and El Capitan Reservoir. Most of it is ozone-treated at the R.M. Levy plant in Lakeside and then carried through the pipes with chloramines. Treated plant water averages 206 mg/L of hardness, about 12 grains per gallon, enough to coat heating elements and clog aerators over time. Helix states it has no lead pipes or service lines in its distribution system and offers an online map so customers can check their service line. Helix customer service is 619-466-0585.

Helix also runs the backflow program for its customers: assemblies are tested every year by a Helix-approved tester at the customer's cost.

Your lateral runs to the street

The City operates the Lemon Grove Sanitation District, with about 67 miles of collection pipe, and the San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater system treats the flow. Here the property owner maintains the sewer lateral from the building all the way to the main, which is usually under the street. Digging in the public right of way needs a City encroachment permit, so a lateral repair near the curb takes more planning than one in the yard. The district answers at 619-825-3810 Monday through Thursday; after hours and Friday through Sunday, sewer spills go to Heartland Fire & Rescue Dispatch at 619-441-1621.

Permits and gas

The City of Lemon Grove Community Development Department's Building Division at City Hall, 3232 Main Street, handles building permits; its number is (619) 825-3800. SDG&E supplies gas. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from somewhere safe.

Differences from the City of San Diego

In San Diego, owners are responsible for the lateral up to the property line. In Lemon Grove the owner's share runs out to the main, and the water comes from Helix rather than a city department. When you call, describe the problem and where you are in town, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who sets the price and timing with you.