Loma Linda plumbing at a glance
Creek country
San Timoteo Creek flows through the city, and in 1969 it overflowed and put about two thirds of Loma Linda underwater. Wet-season drainage is a real planning point.
City water and sewer
The City of Loma Linda runs the water system from six city wells and handles sewer maintenance and treatment. Our work starts on your side of the line.
Renters
About 65% of occupied homes are rented, so many calls involve a tenant, a landlord and a repair that needs approval.
Dispatch
Emergency dispatch is available around the clock, and our Colton shop is only a few miles from the city line.
San Timoteo Creek, the 1969 flood and your lower drains
San Timoteo Creek runs from the southeast to the northwest through Loma Linda. When it overflowed in 1969, it flooded about two thirds of the city and washed out many of the bridges. It flooded parts of the city again in 2010. That history does not tell you whether your house is at risk today, and for that you should look at the FEMA flood map or ask the city.
What it does tell a homeowner is how water moves here. In a long storm the ground fills, and groundwater can press into cracked or loose-jointed sewer pipes. That inflow raises the water level in the line, and the lowest fixture in the house, like a shower drain or a basement floor drain, is where the overflow appears.
Before the first big storm: a drain and yard checklist
A short walk around the house before the rain tells you where water will go.
- Locate the cleanout. It is a capped pipe near the foundation. If you cannot find it, a plumber will need to cut in to reach the line.
- Run every drain. Fill sinks and tubs and let them empty. A slow one is cheaper to clear before the ground is wet.
- Clear the downspouts. Roof water should leave the foundation, not pool beside it where it can seep toward the pipes.
- Test the main shutoff. Turn it off and on once so you know it works before you need it in the dark.
- Ask about backwater protection. A backwater valve stops sewage from flowing back into a house. Ask the City of Loma Linda what it requires before any install.
Sewer backup or a flooded floor during a Loma Linda storm
Sewage in a tub, a toilet that bubbles or a floor drain that rises is an urgent plumbing problem. The 24/7 line is open at night and on weekends. These steps help while you wait.
- Stop every fixture. No flushing, no showers, no dishwasher or washer until the line is cleared.
- Close the main water valve. This slows the flow if a supply line or water heater is also leaking.
- Check the street. If a manhole nearby is overflowing or neighbors report the same, call the city's after-hours line listed on its utility page.
- Turn off power near wet floors. Use the panel only if you can reach it from dry ground.
- Protect health. Keep children and pets away from sewage and wear rubber boots if you must cross the area.
City water, city sewer and where the plumber's job starts
Loma Linda runs its own utilities. The city's water comes from six wells in the Bunker Hill Basin, and the city handles sewer maintenance and treatment. The city also publishes a sewer emergency response plan, and it lists a separate after-hours number for water, sewer and street emergencies on its utility services page.
A plumber's job generally begins at the water meter on the supply side, and at the connection to the city main on the sewer side. The exact point differs by property, so ask the city which part of the line it treats as yours before you pay for a dig.
For a hardness number, read the city's annual water quality report, because we will not guess one. Any repair here is held to the California Plumbing Code, which is based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and the City of Loma Linda decides how that is applied to a permit.
Wet season, dry season and what each does to your pipes
The same house sees different problems at different times of year.
| Time of year | What changes in the plumbing | Service most often needed |
|---|---|---|
| First heavy rain after dry months | Grease and debris that sat in the line get pushed along and snag at a joint | Drain cleaning |
| Long storm with saturated ground | Groundwater presses into cracked pipe and raises the level in the lateral | Sewer inspection |
| After a tree or root has moved the line | A sag or offset joint holds water and paper | Sewer line cleaning |
| Dry, hot stretches | Irrigation and appliances run longer, so slow leaks show up on the meter | Leak detection |
None of this is a forecast. It describes how storm water and drainage work in a sewered neighborhood.
Renting in Loma Linda: who to call and what to say
About 65% of occupied homes in the city are rented, so many repair calls begin with a tenant.
Tell the landlord first
Write down what happened and when, then message the owner or manager. Many landlords want to approve work before a visit.
Shut off water yourself
Closing the main valve is a safe first move and does not need approval. Do it if water is escaping.
Ask who pays
Your lease and California tenant law decide that, and we do not give legal advice. We can put the cause in writing for you.
Let us know about access
If the owner lives elsewhere, tell us who can open the unit and who signs off on the written price.
Around the medical center and the South Hills
Loma Linda University Medical Center is the landmark most callers use to describe where they are. We use it as a location marker only, since we have no relationship with the campus. It helps when you tell dispatch your cross street and the nearest big building so we can find you fast.
The southern third of the city is the South Hills open space, and the older central area was once called Mound City. Homes on the east side sit in what used to be Bryn Mawr. For business owners near the hospital campus, our commercial plumbing service covers restaurants, offices and shops.
Loma Linda's three ZIPs and the neighbors beyond them
Most homes use 92354. The other two Loma Linda ZIPs, 92350 and 92357, are unique single-organization ZIPs tied to the university and the veterans hospital area, so they are not street delivery for homes. We list them so there is no confusion.
Bryn Mawr, ZIP 92318, is very close to the city, and calls there often involve drain cleaning and sewer inspection. Redlands ZIPs 92373 and 92374 are close as well, with the same two services. For a wider look, see our San Bernardino page and the Grand Terrace page.
Frequently asked questions
Three ZIPs carry the Loma Linda name. We cover 92354 across the city's residential streets, plus 92350 around the university and 92357 around the veterans hospital area. Those last two are unique ZIPs for single organizations, so a call there is usually commercial.
Yes. The 24/7 line reaches our Colton dispatch day or night, weekends included. A licensed plumber is sent as soon as a truck is free, and we do not promise an arrival time.
The creek itself does not enter your toilet. Saturated ground can push water into a cracked sewer line, which raises the level and makes fixtures gurgle. A camera inspection shows if the pipe is cracked or sagging.
The city handles sewer maintenance and treatment for its mains. Ask the City of Loma Linda where it treats your property's line as starting. We can clear and inspect the house side and tell you in writing what we found.
You can call for an emergency, and shutting off the water is always sensible. Many owners want to approve paid repairs first, so tell yours as early as you can. We can give a written price for them to approve.
Not by itself. Flood zones come from official maps. Check FEMA's flood map or ask the city for your address, then tell us what you find so we can talk about drainage and backwater protection.