Plumbing in Allen, TX: Leaks, Sewer Lines, Permits and Rebates

Who fixes which leak in Allen

The City of Allen is the water utility for the city and buys its treated water wholesale from the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). The split of responsibility is straightforward (smart water meters):

• The city owns the service line from the main to the meter, and the meter itself.
• You are responsible for the line from the meter to the building, and all the plumbing inside.

Water coming up in the street, at the meter box or from a hydrant is a city job. Allen's water emergency line, 214-509-4530, is answered at the Stacy Road Pump Station (water distribution).

Sewer lines and the $100 cleanout

Allen publishes a clear sewer rule, which not every city does. You maintain the private line from your home to the property line, including the cleanout, and the city maintains the line from the property line to the main (sewer).

The cleanout is the capped pipe, usually near the front of the lot, that lets a plumber get into the line. According to the city, homes built after 1997 have one. If yours doesn't, the city will install one at the front property line for $100. A cleanout makes a sewer backup cheaper and faster to clear, and it helps show whether a blockage is on your side or the city's. If your home is older and you've never found one, it's worth asking about. Our sewer line problems guide covers the warning signs.

The city also asks residents to put cooled cooking grease in a sealed container in the trash, never down the drain, because grease is a leading cause of sewer blockages (fats, oils and grease). See our drain backing up guide.

Smart meter leak alerts and leak adjustments

Allen's smart water meters can warn you about a leak before the bill arrives. Once you opt in through the customer portal, the city sends an alert when a single-family home shows continuous flow of at least 3 gallons an hour for 24 hours (city FAQ). That's roughly what a slowly running toilet uses, so it's worth turning on.

Our high water bill guide shows how to use the meter to tell whether a leak is still running.

Permits and codes

Allen adopted the 2021 International Code Council codes, with North Central Texas Council of Governments regional amendments, effective July 1, 2022 (adopted building codes).

• Repairs: stopping a leak in a drain or water pipe doesn't need a permit, but replacing defective pipe that's concealed in a wall or floor counts as new work and does (residential services).
• Water heaters: the city doesn't publish a separate water heater rule that we could find. Replacement usually counts as permitted work, so ask your plumber to confirm and pull the permit.
• Where to apply: Allen's Citizen Self Service portal (selfservice.cityofallen.org).
• Building and Permitting: 214-509-4130, permit@allentx.gov. On inspection day you can call between 8 and 9 a.m. for a time window (inspections by phone).
• Backflow and irrigation contractors must register with the city each year (contractor registration).

Water quality and hard water

Allen's water comes from NTMWD's Wylie treatment plants. NTMWD's 2025 water quality report lists total hardness of 96 to 200 ppm for Wylie water, which is roughly 6 to 12 grains per gallon, and chloramine disinfection averaging 3.19 ppm (NTMWD 2025 report). NTMWD describes its water as moderately hard. Each spring it switches to free chlorine for about four weeks of system maintenance; in 2025 that ran from March 3 to April 3.

In practice: scale on aerators and showerheads, and sediment in the bottom of water heaters. Our hard water guide covers softeners and the alternatives.

Allen has submitted its service line inventory to the state and reports no lead, galvanized-requiring-replacement or unknown service lines in its system. It publishes an interactive map (water quality).

Housing age in Allen

Census estimates put the median year built for Allen homes at 2003, and only about 7% of homes predate 1980 (American Community Survey 2020 to 2024). About a third were built between 1980 and 1999. Homes from that era are now at the age when original water heaters are long gone, but other original parts, such as supply lines, shutoff valves and fill valves, often haven't been replaced. Our water heater lifespan guide and how to shut off your water are good places to start.

Watering rules and rebates

Allen allows watering up to two days a week on your assigned days, dropping to once a week from November 1 to March 31. From April 1 to October 31, sprinklers can't run between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and running them in rain or below freezing is a violation (find my watering day).

Allen also offers rebates that are relevant when a plumber is already replacing fixtures (apply for a rebate):

• $50 per toilet using 1.28 gallons per flush or less, up to three per home.
• $75 for a smart irrigation controller.
• Apply within one year of purchase. The rebates line is 214-509-4553.

The city also offers free sprinkler system evaluations to a limited number of customers each year (water conservation).

Useful Allen numbers

• Water emergencies and main breaks: 214-509-4530
• Utility Billing: 214-509-4560
• Building and Permitting: 214-509-4130
• Water conservation rebates: 214-509-4553
• Gas smell: leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility from outside

These are official city lines, not plumbing referrals. We're not affiliated with the City of Allen.

Getting a plumber in Allen

Allen's ZIP codes are 75002 and 75013, and the city sits directly south of McKinney along US 75 and SH 121. We accept requests from Allen addresses. Each plumbing business sets its own travel area, so whether a particular plumber covers your street depends on the business, and we'll tell you if we can't find a match. For McKinney's own rules, see our McKinney service area page.