Plumbers in San Marcos, CA

About San Marcos

San Marcos, the "Valley of Discovery," is a North County city about 29 miles north of downtown San Diego in a straight line, with 94,833 residents at the 2020 Census. It is home to Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College, and it stretches along State Route 78 from Twin Oaks Valley Road and San Marcos Boulevard to San Elijo Hills and Lake San Marcos. Its housing is young for the county, with a median build year around 1994.

One district for water and sewer

Vallecitos Water District provides water, wastewater and recycled water across about 45 square miles that include San Marcos, Lake San Marcos and parts of Escondido, Carlsbad, Vista and unincorporated county land. To confirm a parcel is inside its water or sewer boundaries, contact the district's Engineering Department; the main number is 760-744-0460. Supply is imported water bought through the San Diego County Water Authority plus desalinated seawater from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant, and the district disinfects with chloramines. Chloramines can be rough on water heater anode rods and rubber parts in fixtures, and aquarium owners and home dialysis users need to treat for them.

Vallecitos maintains the water and sewer mains. Lines installed to serve private property belong to the owner, and new water services, meters and sewer laterals are put in by private contractors at the owner's expense.

High pressure in some areas

Where incoming pressure tops 175 psi, Vallecitos installs a regulator on its side of the meter to protect the meter. That regulator does not protect your house, so the district notes that a customer-side pressure regulator may be needed. Banging pipes, leaking relief valves on water heaters and short-lived faucet parts can all point to high pressure.

Permits, fixtures and backflow

The City of San Marcos Building Division (760-744-1050) issues residential permits. Its packet includes a water-conserving fixture certificate: homes built on or before January 1, 1994 have to replace non-compliant toilets, showerheads and faucets, such as toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush, as part of permitted work. Backflow assemblies need district approval and must be tested at least once a year by a Vallecitos-approved certified tester, with failed units repaired and retested.

Gas

SDG&E is the gas utility. If you notice a gas smell, leave the home, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from a safe distance.

Unlike the City of San Diego

San Diego's own utility handles water and sewer inside city limits; here a special district does both and the city handles permits. Call, describe the problem and your area, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who agrees on cost and timing with you.