Who to Call First for Water Damage in Bartlett, TN
Water leaking at a Bartlett meter, bubbling up in the street or backing into a house goes to 901-385-5586 on weekdays. Outside those hours, use the city's emergency number, 901-385-5558.
Who to Call First in BartlettBartlett Contacts by Water or Sewer Problem
Call the number that matches where the water comes from. Meter leaks, water in the street, and water or sewer backing up into a building go to Bartlett Water/Wastewater at 901-385-5586 on weekdays. Emergencies use 901-385-5558. A yard drainage problem goes to Engineering at 901-385-6499. Danger to people goes to 911.
| Situation | Call | Note | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaking at the water meter | 901-385-5586 | The city lists it as a report item; weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Checked: September 2026 |
| Bubbling up in the street | 901-385-5586 | Same Water/Wastewater line | Checked: September 2026 |
| Water or sewer backing up into the house | 901-385-5586 | The city lists it there on weekdays; outside 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. use 901-385-5558, and call 911 first if anyone is in danger | Checked: September 2026 |
| Water or sewer emergency | 901-385-5558 | The emergency number the city lists for Water/Wastewater and Public Works | Checked: September 2026 |
| Drainage trouble in your yard | 901-385-6499 | City of Bartlett Engineering Department | Checked: September 2026 |
| Gas odor, sparking, injury | 911 | Leave the building first | Checked: September 2026 |
| A pipe failing inside your house | Main shut-off valve | Use it only if you can reach it safely, then seek qualified help | Checked: September 2026 |
| General Public Works, not the water line | 901-385-5570 | Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Checked: September 2026 |
Match the row to where the water is, not to where you first noticed it. A stain on a ceiling can start somewhere else, and a wet yard can come from the street side or from your own line.
The city explains what to report on its Water/Wastewater Services page, and its drainage FAQ says Engineering will investigate a yard concern.
Shutting Off the Water Safely
Use your home's main shut-off valve if you can reach it safely. Do not force a valve you cannot operate; seek qualified help. Bartlett asks residents to report water leaking from a water meter to Water/Wastewater Services at 901-385-5586. Its weekday hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Danger first: if water is near electrical equipment or a ceiling is sagging, leave the area and call 911 if anyone is at risk.
- Inside the house: use the main shut-off valve for water from your own plumbing only if you can reach it safely.
- At the meter or in the street: report it to 901-385-5586 on weekdays, or 901-385-5558 for an emergency.
- If you cannot stop the water: qualified help means a plumber for your own pipes, or the city for water that starts at the meter or in the street.
Pipe failures, freeze dates and claim clocks are covered in the burst pipe guide for Bartlett homeowners.
Flood Zones and Creeks Around Bartlett
Bartlett drains to two rivers, the Loosahatchie to the north and the Wolf to the south, and the city names Howard, Raner, Buckhead, Oliver and Harrington creeks among its waterways. To see whether an address sits in a mapped flood zone, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
- FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, at msc.fema.gov, is the official source for flood maps.
- Standard homeowners policies typically exclude flood, and a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the federal option.
- NFIP coverage is up to $250,000 for the building and up to $100,000 for contents, for homes with one to four units.
- New NFIP policies normally take effect 30 days after purchase, with exceptions such as a lender-required purchase or a change to the map.
Start with the FEMA Flood Map Service Center for your address and read FloodSmart's policy information for coverage terms. A mapped zone does not by itself tell you whether a particular leak or backup is covered, because that depends on your policy wording and the cause of the water.
After the Water Is Stopped
Once the water is stopped, tell your insurer promptly and limit repairs to temporary protection until the insurer has inspected the damage. A restoration provider that serves your address can then assess the drying and cleanup. Ask the provider for proof of insurance and any trade license the job requires.
- Photograph and video the damage before cleanup, when it is safe.
- Keep receipts for temporary protective repairs.
- Keep damaged materials for inspection where that is safe.
- Ask any provider what kind of water it believes you have and what its scope of work covers.
- Ask the City of Bartlett which permits a repair needs before work begins.
- Read the mold timing guide for Bartlett homes if wet materials are still in place.
If you rent, tell your landlord about the water damage in writing. Renters insurance protects your belongings, and the building itself falls outside it.
The Bartlett water damage guide overview covers insurance clocks and hiring basics in more detail.
If That Did Not Work
A phone line can be closed, a valve can refuse to move and a source can turn out to be somewhere else. There are three other exits, and none of them depends on the first call working. Ask the office about availability and what to do while you wait.
- Try again: for a water or sewer emergency, call 901-385-5558. For a nonurgent report, call 901-385-5586 during its listed weekday hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Another route: if the source is inside your house and you cannot reach or operate the valve, seek qualified help, such as a plumber. For a drainage problem, try Engineering at 901-385-6499.
- Who to contact: for danger to people, call 911. For an insurance dispute, contact TDCI at 615-741-2218 or 800-342-4029. The burst pipe guide for Bartlett explains the claim clocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number do I call in a Bartlett water or sewer emergency?
Is 901-385-5570 the water line?
Who handles water pooling in my yard?
Who do I call if sewage is backing up into my house?
How do I find out whether my address is in a flood zone?
How much does a federal flood policy cover?
Water in your home right now?
See who to call first in Bartlett, how to reach your water provider, and how to check your flood zone.
Who to Call First in Bartlett