Modesto, California Water Outage Today
Live Modesto water outage reports, City of Modesto Utilities’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Modesto, California in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Modesto?
Drinking water in Modesto, California is supplied by City of Modesto Utilities, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in California are regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water.
To report no water or a main break, call City of Modesto Utilities at 209-342-2246.
Modesto tap water system, by the numbers
City of Modesto is the water system EPA lists for Modesto, serving about 218,771 people. Customers know it as City of Modesto Utilities; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | City of Modesto (CA5010010) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 218,771 through 70,793 service connections |
| Source of the water | Purchased surface water |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 61 active wells, 66 treatment points |
| Connections to other systems | 1 |
| State regulator | State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 12 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Where Modesto's tap water comes from
Modesto does not collect its own raw water. City of Modesto buys surface water from Modesto Irrigation District and distributes it through its own mains.
Why this matters when the water stops. Because the water arrives from Modesto Irrigation District, a break on that supplier's transmission main or a plant shutdown upstream can leave Modesto without water even when the local pipes are sound. Watch the supplier's alerts as well as City of Modesto Utilities.
What causes water outages and low pressure in Modesto
Which failures hit Modesto hardest follows from its weather, its housing stock and how it is supplied.
- Long dry spells. The longest stretch without measurable rain since 2015 lasted 179 days, ending October 30, 2024. Dry soil shrinks and shifts around buried pipe, and breaks often cluster when the rain returns and the ground swells again.
- Summer demand. Modesto has about 76 days a year at or above 95°F and 44 at or above 100°F, and the hottest day in the record came on September 6, 2022. Lawn irrigation and cooling push demand to its yearly high, so pumps run hard, tanks drain faster than they refill and pressure sags on high ground in the evening.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 19 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Stanislaus County from 2015 through 2026, and 3 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Flooding is hard on water systems in three ways: it erodes soil around pipe crossings, drowns pumps and electrical equipment, and can let contaminated runoff into the mains, which triggers precautionary boil notices.
- Construction and third-party damage. A backhoe or boring crew that hits a main is among the most common reasons a single block goes dry without warning. Utilities handle those the same way as any break: isolate, repair, flush.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
Freeze, heat and rain: the Modesto weather record
Heat, not frost, is the main weather stress on the water system in Modesto: summer demand peaks while irrigation and cooling run at full tilt.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 4.8 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 0 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 0 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 76.1 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 43.5 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 2.9 |
| Average annual precipitation | 17.2 in |
| Wettest year | 2017 (23.4 in) |
| Driest year | 2020 (7.4 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | December 26, 2015 |
| Hottest day in the record | September 6, 2022 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2017 with 23.4 inches; the driest was 2020 with 7.4. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
Because this is gridded reanalysis data, individual hot and cold days can read a few degrees off what the airport recorded. The day counts and yearly patterns are the useful part.
Modesto boil water notices and EPA compliance record
Since 2015, EPA's record for City of Modesto shows no health-based violations.
A boil water notice in Modesto is a separate thing from a violation. City of Modesto Utilities issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in Modesto
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for City of Modesto is 12 ppb (2027). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is under it, but not by much.
Highest result on file: 12 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
31.9% of occupied homes in Modesto were built before 1970, and lead service lines and solder stayed legal until the federal ban in 1986. After any outage that disturbs the pipes, run the cold tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, and ask City of Modesto Utilities about its lead service line inventory.
When will the water come back on in Modesto?
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Modesto usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | 1 to 3 days |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Until power returns and tanks recover, often within a day |
| Boil water notice after service returns | About 24 to 48 hours, until lab tests are clean |
| Frozen service line or meter | Hours if you can thaw it, longer if the pipe has split |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
City of Modesto Utilities will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
Emergency water storage for Modesto households
Census figures put the typical Modesto household at about 3 people. At one gallon per person per day that is 9 gallons for three days or 42 gallons for a two-week supply.
- Heat: 76 days a year top 95°F here, so plan for more than the one-gallon minimum, and keep extra for pets.
- A standard water heater is a ready-made 40-gallon reserve. Shut off its power or gas, open a hot tap somewhere in the house, and draw from the drain valve.
- If a planned shutoff or storm is coming, fill the tub and some buckets for flushing toilets and washing; keep drinking water in clean sealed containers.
How Modesto compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | City of Modesto | 218,771 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 12 |
| Stockton, CA | City of Stockton | 191,302 | Surface | 3 | 0 |
| San Jose, CA | San Jose Water | 1,039,920 | Surface | 1 | 4.5 |
| Fremont, CA | Alameda County Water District | 344,000 | Surface | 0 | 5.7 |
| Sacramento, CA | City of Sacramento Main | 527,979 | Surface | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Modesto boil water notices and main breaks
City of Modesto Utilities posts Modesto boil water notices, main breaks and planned shutoffs on its own site and alerts. What a notice requires: water outage guide.
Modesto frequently asked water questions
Who do I call about no water in Modesto?
City of Modesto Utilities at 209-342-2246, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Modesto get its water?
EPA records for City of Modesto say Modesto relies on purchased surface water. It buys from Modesto Irrigation District.
Can you drink the tap water in Modesto?
EPA lists no health-based violations for City of Modesto since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 12 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
Is there a water main break season in Modesto?
With only about 5 freezing days a year, Modesto sees fewer cold-weather breaks. Summer demand, ground movement after dry spells, old pipe and construction damage cause most of them, so they can occur in any month.
Why is my water pressure low in Modesto?
Check whether neighbors have the same problem. If they do, it is probably a main break, a pump problem or evening demand (76 days a year top 95°F here), and City of Modesto Utilities should hear about it. If not, the cause is likely inside your own plumbing.
How long do boil water advisories last in Modesto?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so City of Modesto Utilities cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water sets the rules for that process.
How many gallons of emergency water does a Modesto family need?
One gallon per person per day is the FEMA minimum. For Modesto that means about 9 gallons to cover three days for an average household of 3, and 42 gallons for two weeks.
Are there lead service lines in Modesto?
It depends on the age of your home. About 31.9% of occupied homes in Modesto were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact City of Modesto Utilities about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
How do I check for water outages near me in Modesto?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of Modesto have sent in over the last day, and City of Modesto Utilities has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
More outage pages for Modesto and nearby
Other outage types in Modesto
Water Service Outages in cities near Modesto
- Stockton, CA 27 mi · City of Stockton Municipal Utilities
- San Jose, CA 53 mi · San Jose Water
- Fremont, CA 55 mi · Alameda County Water District
- Sacramento, CA 71 mi · City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
- Oakland, CA 71 mi · East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)
- San Francisco, CA 78 mi · San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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