Irvine is the big neighbor on our western side, and our 24/7 emergency line at (949) 670-0939 reaches it from the Lake Forest base. The city has about 318,000 residents and covers 65.61 square miles, so ZIP code and village matter when we plan a response.
We handle water damage restoration across nine Irvine ZIP codes, from first extraction through drying and rebuild. This page explains what is distinct about water problems in a planned city of villages and drainage washes.
Villages, washes and where flooding concentrates
Irvine incorporated on December 28, 1971 and grew village by village. The city's history page lists Turtle Rock, University Park, Culverdale, the Ranch and Walnut as completed by 1970, so some Irvine homes are older than many people assume.
The city's draft safety element places FEMA 100-year and 500-year flood zones in pockets, mostly along San Diego Creek, Serrano Creek, Borrego Canyon Wash, Agua Chinon Wash, Bee Canyon Wash, Peters Canyon Wash and Sand Canyon Wash. If you live near one of these, ask your insurer about flood coverage and check your address on the FEMA flood map.
| Fact from city or county records | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| FEMA zones sit in pockets along named washes | Check the FEMA map for your exact address |
| Underpasses can flood, with pump stations at Sand Canyon Avenue, Jamboree Road, Culver Drive and Jeffrey Road | Avoid driving through flooded underpasses during storms |
| More than a dozen detention basins | Local drainage is engineered, but storms can exceed it |
| Irvine takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program | Flood policies are available to homeowners |
When water is spreading in Irvine
Emergency water removal is available in Irvine around the clock, and same-day response is offered when crews are available. Call, describe the water and the dispatcher will tell you what to do while a crew is arranged.
Stop the source
Close the main valve or the fixture valve, and open a low faucet to relieve pressure.
Mind electricity
Stay out of wet rooms if water touches outlets. Call 911 or the utility for any electrical concern.
Protect contents
Lift valuables and photograph the damage before moving items.
Water, sewer and recycled water: who to call
Irvine Ranch Water District serves all of Irvine, plus parts of Lake Forest and other cities. IRWD was established in 1961, added sewage collection and treatment in 1963 and began recycled water service in 1967, so water and sewer questions in Irvine usually have one answer.
If your problem is a sewer backup in the street line, IRWD is the agency to call, and you call us for the cleanup. Recycled water is for irrigation, so a leak from a purple-pipe line is not drinking water and should still be shut off and reported.
Water problem in Irvine?
Call (949) 670-0939. Crews dispatch from Lake Forest, the next city to the east.
What we handle most often in Irvine
Flooding and drainage events make flood damage restoration and water mitigation the lead services here. Appliance and supply-line failures in multi-unit buildings call for water damage cleanup across several rooms.
Crews also serve Laguna Hills and Aliso Viejo on the same dispatch line. For rebuild after the drying stage, see our repair page.
Insurance and documentation
Homeowners policies generally do not cover flood damage but do cover other kinds of water damage, according to the California Department of Insurance. Keep photos, receipts and the written drying log, and report the loss to your insurer promptly.
Irvine water damage questions
Yes. Call (949) 670-0939 any hour. Crews leave from Lake Forest and same-day response is offered when available.
We serve Irvine ZIP codes 92618, 92602, 92603, 92604, 92606, 92612, 92614, 92617 and 92620. The UC Irvine campus ZIP 92697 is campus only. Call to confirm any address that is unclear.
Check the FEMA flood map at msc.fema.gov for your address or ask the city. We do not determine flood zones.
Irvine Ranch Water District handles sewage collection in Irvine. We handle the cleanup inside your home.
Recycled water is for irrigation, not drinking. Shut off the line, report it to IRWD and call us if it entered the house.