Who to Call First for Water Damage in Germantown, TN
Germantown takes water emergency calls at 901-757-7350 on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Who to Call First in GermantownWho to Call First When Water Is Inside Your House
Call Germantown's public works number for a water leak or sewer backup: 901-757-7350 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or 901-757-7338 after hours. That call covers the city side of the problem. Drying, cleanup and repairs inside the house are separate work that a provider you choose does once the water is stopped.
- Water from a pipe or fixture: stop it at your home's main shut-off valve if you can reach it safely. Do not force a valve you cannot operate; seek qualified help.
- Sewage or water coming up through drains: report it to the city and read the sewer section below before you touch anything.
- Water from heavy rain or a rising creek: the city lists one contact for water leaks, sewer and storm drain issues, and a separate Engineering number for stormwater concerns.
- Damage already inside the walls, floors or ceilings: that is work for a restoration provider, covered further down this page.
Two different jobs follow a water problem at your house. The city handles reports about its water, sewer and storm drain systems. A restoration provider you hire handles drying and repairs inside the building, and your insurer handles any claim.
Germantown Water, Sewer and Stormwater Contacts
This table gathers Germantown's published contacts for water, sewer and stormwater problems. The numbers and hours come from the city's own pages. Hours can change, so check the city's pages if a call does not connect. Sources are Germantown's water services page, Germantown's sewer services page and Germantown's stormwater management page.
| Need | Contact | Number and hours | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water emergency on a weekday | City water services | 901-757-7350, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Checked: September 2026 |
| Water emergency after hours | City technician | 901-757-7338 | Checked: September 2026 |
| Sewer backup on a weekday | City public works | 901-757-7350, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Checked: September 2026 |
| Sewer backup after hours, holidays and weekends | City public works | 901-757-7338 | Checked: September 2026 |
| Water leak, sewer or storm drain issue | City public works contact page | 901-757-7350; after hours 901-757-7338 | Checked: September 2026 |
| Stormwater inquiries or concerns | Germantown Engineering Department | 901-751-7546 | Checked: September 2026 |
| Valve in the water meter box | City rule | Permitted only during an emergency; needs a special key tool | Checked: September 2026 |
Both the water and the sewer lines list weekday hours of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Outside those hours, the city lists 901-757-7338.
Water Supply Problems and the Meter Box Valve
For a water emergency, Germantown asks you to call 901-757-7350 on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., or 901-757-7338 to reach a technician after hours. The city says using the water cut-off valve in the water meter box is permissible only during an emergency and requires a special key tool.
- Inside your home, use the main shut-off valve if you can reach it safely. Do not force a valve you cannot operate; seek qualified help.
- The meter box valve rule is the city's. This guide does not describe how to open or operate the meter box.
- Once the source is stopped, water that reached floors, walls or ceilings is a drying job. The page on burst pipe water damage in Germantown covers winter pipe failures and claims.
Sewer Backups and Your Private Sewer Line
Report a sewer backup to Germantown at 901-757-7350 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, or 901-757-7338 after hours, holidays and weekends. According to the city, the homeowner is responsible for the line between the house and its connection at the street to the major sewer line, unless a blockage in the city sewer main caused the problem.
- The city's exception: if a problem in the homeowner's lateral is caused by a blockage in the city sewer main, responsibility is not the homeowner's.
- The city's cleanout advice: the city says that if a sewer backup occurs in the home, the cap on the cleanout may be removed to relieve the pressure and protect the home from sewage backflow.
- General safety advice, not the city's words: do not wade into water that may be contaminated, and do not touch damaged electrical equipment.
Backup coverage varies by policy, so ask your insurer about it; the department's Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance complaint page lists 615-741-2218 and 800-342-4029 for policy questions.
Storm Drains, the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek
For a storm drain issue, Germantown's contact page lists the same numbers as for water leaks and sewer problems: 901-757-7350 on weekdays and 901-757-7338 after hours. Stormwater inquiries or concerns go to the Germantown Engineering Department at 901-751-7546. The city says its flood control programs address flooding along the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek.
- The city lists its City Engineer at 901-751-7546, the same number as the Engineering Department.
- The city describes flood control as a program aimed at lessening flood impact and damage along the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek; it does not replace flood insurance for your house.
- FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is an official source for flood maps.
- Standard homeowners policies typically exclude flood. Ask your insurer whether you carry separate flood coverage.
- According to FEMA and FloodSmart, the National Flood Insurance Program offers up to $250,000 for a building and up to $100,000 for contents on one-to-four-unit homes, and typically has a 30-day waiting period.
- For policy questions, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance lists 615-741-2218 and 800-342-4029.
After the Utility Call: Bringing in a Provider
Once the source is stopped or reported, drying and repairs are the next job. That work belongs to a restoration provider you hire, not to the city. A provider that serves your ZIP code can tell you what it can do at your address. Ask for proof of insurance and any trade license the job requires.
- Pipe failures and winter freezes: burst pipe water damage in Germantown.
- Damp materials and mold worries: mold after water damage in Germantown.
- The overview of this guide: the Germantown water damage guide home page.
If That Did Not Work
If a call does not connect or the answer does not fit your problem, you have three exits: try again, use another route, or contact an outside office. Ask the city about availability and what to do while you wait. Germantown's weekday line has set hours, so the after-hours number may be the right second call.
- Try again: call 901-757-7350 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or 901-757-7338 after hours, holidays and weekends.
- Another route: for stormwater, contact the Engineering Department at 901-751-7546; for a damaged home, ask another provider that serves your ZIP code.
- Who to contact: for an insurance problem, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance lists 615-741-2218 and 800-342-4029.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for the sewer line between my house and the street? ▾
Should I remove the sewer cleanout cap during a backup? ▾
What number do I use for water problems after 3:30 p.m.? ▾
Who handles a storm drain problem in Germantown? ▾
Is a call to the city enough for water damage inside my house? ▾
Who do I ask about flooding along the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek? ▾
Water in your home right now?
See who to call first in Germantown, how to reach your water provider, and how to check your flood zone.
Who to Call First in Germantown