Plumbers in Rio Verde, AZ

In Rio Verde, the master-planned community, tap water comes from EPCOR's water district for the community. EPCOR's 2025 report says the supply is five groundwater wells, 160 to 697 feet deep, in the northeast part of the community, serving about 3,100 connections. EPCOR says residents there fall under its separate wastewater district, where most residential customers pay a flat monthly charge. The Arizona Corporation Commission reviews and approves both sets of rates.

The Rio Verde Foothills, a separate unincorporated community, works differently. Approved customers there buy water at EPCOR's standpipe fill station on North 176th Street, open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and a hauler, or the owner, carries it to the property. EPCOR says drilling a private well remains an option, through the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Your bills show which setup you have: an EPCOR bill for district water, or an EPCOR bill for standpipe water, plus a hauler's bill if you use one.

EPCOR's 2025 report for the community's system lists hardness of 11 to 14 grains per gallon and total dissolved solids of 323 to 376 parts per million, both from 2024 samples. It says the white deposits on dishes and faucets are usually calcium carbonate, and that EPCOR does not treat drinking water for hardness. The report also lists a highest arsenic amount detected of 8.0 parts per billion in 2023 sampling, against a federal limit of 10.

Hardness at that level settles as scale in water heaters, valves, aerators and showerheads. A whole-house softener reduces it, and a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink lowers the dissolved minerals in drinking water. The report covers EPCOR's district water, so if your home relies on hauled water or a private well, test your own water before choosing equipment.

With no city or town government, building permits here come from Maricopa County Planning and Development. The County no longer requires a permit to replace an existing water heater when the work follows the manufacturer's specifications, though you can apply for one to get an inspection. Its online minor permits cover jobs such as water, sewer or gas line repair and like-for-like plumbing repair.

If your home has a septic system, the County advises pumping the tank every three to five years and cleaning its effluent filter every six to twelve months. On EPCOR water, any backflow assembly must sit within 36 inches of the meter unless EPCOR directs otherwise, and the customer is responsible for installing, maintaining and testing it. EPCOR wants test reports within 30 days of each yearly test.