Water & Sewer Related Services

State law requires that any person digging anywhere in Texas must notify all utility companies and give them a 48 hours prior notice to mark their underground facilities before starting to dig. The City of Pharr Public Utilities Department, like most utility companies in the state, is a member of Texas811.  Texas811 provides a service for all members by receiving calls for locate requests and transmitting the information by computer to its members. If you plan to do any digging, please call Texas811 by dialing 811. If you need city water and sewer facility locations for an emergency, you may contact the Utilities Department at (956) 402–4300.

Fire hydrants are an important part of the city water distribution system.  They are for the purpose of supplying water for use by the Fire Department for fighting fires and by the Public Utilities Department for maintaining and flushing of the system.  Hydrants are tested semi-annually by the Fire Department to ensure proper operation and are repaired by the Utilities Department when needed.  Persons who observe leaking or broken hydrants should call the Utilities Department at (956) 402–4300 between 8:00am – 5:00pm or (956) 402–4444 after hours.

Fire Hydrant Usage
The use of fire hydrants in the City of Pharr by private individuals is prohibited unless special permission is granted and a meter has been issued to measure the water used. Use of hydrants without permission of the City is strictly prohibited, as this may prevent use during an emergency or may deplete the water supply. Hydrants being used without a meter should be reported to the Utilities Department at (956) 402–4300 or the Fire Department at (956) 402-4400.

All water meters for new water service in the City of Pharr must be purchased from the city. In residential subdivisions, the developer installs the water service before the lots are sold. On existing streets and in commercial areas where new water meters are required, the builder must hire a contractor to install the needed service after obtaining a permit. The meter fees must be paid to the Billing division located at 118 S Cage Blvd, Pharr, TX. The order for installation of the meter is transferred electronically to the Public Utilities Department.  Installation normally takes between 5-7 business days (excluding weekends and holidays).

When plumbing fixtures are installed inside a building, a water trap is placed under each fixture to prevent odors from escaping into the building and vent pipes are run through the roof to allow odors to escape to the atmosphere. Sewer odors inside a building are usually an indication that something is wrong with the plumbing system and the system should be checked by a plumbing repair service. The water may evaporate from floor drains and sinks that are not used for a long period of time, allowing odors to escape. Pouring a little water into the plumbing fixture may solve this problem. Sewer odors outside of a building may be an indication that the City sewer main is stopped up and/or broken. If sewer odors are noticed outside of a building, please contact the Utilities Department at (956) 402–4300 immediately.

In residential subdivisions, the developer installs the sewer service before the lots are sold. On existing streets and in commercial areas where new sewer services are required, the builder must hire a contractor to install the needed services after obtaining a permit.  An excavation permit from the Public Utilities Department located at 801 E Sam Houston, Pharr, TX is required prior to connecting to the city sewer main.  The permit is $10.00 payable by check or money order only and the licensed plumber must present his Certificate of Insurance at that time.  The sewer connection fees must be paid to the Development Services at the time the plumbing permit is obtained. The order for location of the sewer service takes between 5-7 business days (excluding weekends and holidays).

Persons observing sewage overflowing from manholes, cracks in the pavement surrounding the manhole, a broken or missing manhole lid should notify the Utilities Department immediately at (956) 402–4300 or (956) 402-4444 after hours, weekends or holidays.