South Scottsdale, Scottsdale
Water Damage Restoration in South Scottsdale, AZ
South Scottsdale homes are mostly ranch houses from the 1950s to the 1980s. Watch pipe and slab leaks, the Indian Bend Wash greenbelt and the city's Granite Reef Wash project.
Area covered
14.98 square miles
Homes built 1950 to 1979, ZIP 85257
67%
Granite Reef Wash floodplain
Over 600 homes
Drive from City Hall
About 1.9 miles
About South Scottsdale
South Scottsdale means the City of Scottsdale's Southern Scottsdale area. It covers 14.98 square miles, from Indian Bend Road on the north to Tempe on the south. Phoenix and Paradise Valley lie to the west, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to the east.
Pipe leak in a South Scottsdale ranch home? What to do first
Shut the main water valve, then call for help. If the meter keeps moving with every tap off, the leak may be hidden.
- 01
Close the main valve
Find the house's main water valve and turn it off. If it won't close, call a plumber right away.
- 02
Read the meter
With every tap and appliance off, watch the meter. A moving dial points to a hidden leak, such as a pipe in or under the slab.
- 03
Photograph and lift
Photograph the wet areas. Lift rugs and boxes off wet floors, and keep clear of outlets.
- 04
City side of the meter
Leak between the street and the meter? That is the city's side. Call the City of Scottsdale water line at 480-312-5650. Past the meter, the city says the owner is responsible.
- 05
Call for water removal
A plumber fixes the pipe. Standing water is then pulled out of carpet, tile and pad, and structural drying dries the floor and lower walls.
Ranch homes from the 1950s to the 1980s: where age shows up
The city's plan says South Scottsdale's main housing is single-story ranch homes from the 1950s through the 1980s. In ZIP 85257, 67% of homes were built from 1950 to 1979.
Supply and drain lines
An older national IBHS study found homes 30 years old were 3 times as likely to have a plumbing supply or drainage problem.
Pipes in or under the slab
A slab leak comes from a pipe in or under a concrete slab floor. Ask a plumber which lines in your house run there. The Arizona Geological Survey lists ruptured pipelines among the damage from problem soils. See slab leak and burst pipe water damage.
Hard water and the water heater
The city puts hardness south of Indian School Road at 13 to 15 grains per gallon. The USGS says heating hard water can form scale in a water heater and shorten its life.
The core Census tract
In tract 2179, which holds the ZIP 85257 center, the median home was built in 1972. Of its 2,067 homes, 592 date from the 1950s.
Indian Bend Wash: why the greenbelt exists
Indian Bend Wash flooded in September 1966 and again on June 22, 1972. The city built its 11-mile greenbelt as a flood control project.
The 1972 flood destroyed 17 homes in the floodplain, says the city's historic study. Voters approved $10 million in flood control bonds in April 1973. The city says the greenbelt project began in 1973 and finished in 1985.
The city is now repairing the greenbelt lakes between Thomas and McKellips Roads. It says tree roots punctured the clay liners, lake edges erode and the spillway just north of McKellips Road leaks.
Storm water in a yard is a drainage problem. Water from a pipe inside is a plumbing problem. For storm water that gets inside, see flood and storm damage.
Granite Reef Wash: a city flood project near Thomas and McKellips Roads
The city says the FEMA floodplain along Granite Reef Wash is about 2 miles long and includes over 600 homes. It runs from Thomas Road to McKellips Road.
The floodplain sits generally between Granite Reef Road and Pima Road. Phase 1 of the city's drainage project, north of Indian School Road, was built from June 2017 to June 2021. It sends more runoff to Indian Bend Wash. Phase 2, to the south, has no funding yet.
FEMA's map shows the center of ZIP 85257 as Zone X, an area with reduced flood risk due to a levee. That is one point on a map, not an answer for your address. Look up your address on the current FEMA flood map, then ask your insurer how flood water is handled. Read does homeowners insurance cover water damage.
Water damage services in South Scottsdale
South Scottsdale jobs often start with a pipe or slab leak and end with drying floors and lower walls. The city's Southern Scottsdale area surrounds Old Town Scottsdale, which has its own page.
Emergency water extraction
Standing water from a leak or overflow: what to do first, what can be saved and how drying works.Mold remediation and testing
Mold or a musty smell after a leak: when testing helps and how mold remediation works.Slab leak and burst pipe
Slab leak, burst pipe or a leaking water heater: what to do first and who fixes what.Flood and storm damage
Monsoon flooding, a roof leak or water dripping from the ceiling after a storm.Sewage cleanup
A drain backup or a toilet overflow brought sewage into your home. Stay safe, then call.Structural drying
Walls and floors still wet after the water is gone: how drying works, how long it takes, what can be saved.Commercial water damage
Water in an office, restaurant or shop: what to do first, cutting downtime and the file your insurer needs.
More Scottsdale neighborhoods
Water damage pages for other neighborhoods in Scottsdale.
- Old Town Scottsdale71% of homes near City Hall are in buildings of 50 or more units
- McCormick RanchGreenbelt lakes that act as storm water basins, about 5.5 miles from City Hall
- Scottsdale RanchLake Serena and 1980s homes, about 9.4 miles from Scottsdale City Hall
- Gainey RanchA 1984 reclaimed-water plant for golf course irrigation, about 6.6 miles from City Hall
South Scottsdale water damage questions
Which part of Scottsdale is South Scottsdale?
South Scottsdale follows the City of Scottsdale's Southern Scottsdale Character Area. It covers 9,587 acres and held about 30% of the city's population when the plan was adopted in 2010. Some people use a narrower definition, McKellips Road north to Thomas Road. The city's area is wider.
How long do water heaters last in South Scottsdale?
An older national IBHS study found 3 out of 4 water heaters fail before they are 12 years old, and the chance of a leak or burst climbs sharply at 5 years. It says sediment builds up faster in hard water areas and advises flushing the tank every 6 months.
Can a slab leak damage my floors before I see a puddle?
A leak under a slab wets the soil first. Moisture can then reach flooring, baseboards and the bottom of walls. A plumber finds the leak, and then the wet materials are dried.
My house is near the greenbelt. What should I check after heavy rain?
Look for water pooling against walls, doors or the slab edge. Stay out of washes and low areas, since the National Weather Service calls being near a wash particularly dangerous. If storm water gets inside, call for help right away.
Pick your town for local storm risks and what to do first when water gets into a home.
- ScottsdaleIndian Bend Wash Greenbelt: 11 miles of flood control.
- Paradise ValleyAbout 4.4 miles from Scottsdale City Hall, with four water providers and many properties on septic.
- North ScottsdaleDC Ranch and Pinnacle Peak Park, about 16 to 21 miles from Scottsdale City Hall.
- Fountain HillsAbout 21 miles from Scottsdale City Hall. 58% of homes here were built from 1980 to 1999.
- Cave CreekFounded in 1870 as a mining and ranching community, about 29 miles from Scottsdale City Hall.
- CarefreeEasy Street and Ho Hum Road, about 27 miles from Scottsdale City Hall.