Your side or the city's: sorting out a Midwest City emergency
Midwest City runs its own water and sewer utility, so some late-night problems belong to Public Works, not to a plumber. A geyser at the curb, water bubbling up around the meter box, or a sewer main backing up into several houses on the block points to city pipe. The city lists an after-hours water and sewer emergency line, 405-739-1383, for exactly those calls.
Past that point, the pipe is usually yours: the private water line to the house, the sewer lateral from the house to the main, and all the plumbing inside. When you call us, we ask a few quick questions to figure out which side you are on, so you are not paying a plumber for a city break or waiting on the city for a problem under your kitchen floor.
Why emergency calls run high in an older system
Age drives a lot of it. The city's 2025 Water Master Plan reports that a significant portion of the public water system was built in the 1950s, and its review of city work orders turned up 543 records tied to pipe condition, from cracks and breaks to leaking fittings and service saddles. Houses from those years share the same problem. Census Bureau survey data shows about 4 in 10 Midwest City homes were built before 1970, and original galvanized lines, cast-iron drains and clay laterals tend to give out with little notice.
Storms are the other driver. The National Weather Service tracked the May 3, 1999 tornado into Midwest City, and the May 8, 2003 tornado crossed Tinker and I-40 into the southeast side. After a storm, we cap broken water lines, check gas piping for leaks once the gas utility has made the area safe, and get water back to the parts of the house that can safely have it.
Emergency plumbing we handle around the clock
- Sewer backups. Floor drains, tubs or toilets overflowing from a blocked or broken lateral.
- Broken and burst pipes. Split supply lines, failed fittings and yard line breaks on your side of the meter.
- Water heater failures. Leaking tanks, dripping relief valves and no hot water at all.
- Gas line problems. Leak checks, repairs and pressure tests on your house piping.
- No water. Frozen lines, failed valves and sudden pressure loss inside the house.
Our main page on 24/7 emergency plumbing services covers the full list of what we respond to.
What to do before we get there
Smell gas? Leave the house first, then call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not flip light switches or start a car in an attached garage. Once the utility says it is safe, we can find and repair the leak in your piping.
- Shut off the water. Use the main valve where the line enters the house. If you cannot find it, or it will not turn, tell us and we will talk you through the next step.
- Protect the water heater. If the tank is leaking, turn off its breaker or set the gas valve to pilot, then close the cold water valve on top.
- Stop using the drains. During a sewer backup, that includes the washing machine, dishwasher and every toilet in the house.
- Call us. We answer 24/7, and same-day service is often available for urgent repairs.
Want to know more about the town's water system, sewers and permit rules? Our Midwest City plumbing guide covers the local details.