Between two rivers, below a dam
Pico Rivera sits on a plain between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River, below Whittier Narrows. Whittier Narrows Dam is located in the city. In 2019 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that the dam no longer meets its tolerable-risk guidelines, with reporting saying it could fail in a 900-year storm.
That is not a prediction, and it is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and ask your insurer about flood coverage, since flood damage is usually excluded from standard policies. The practical step is to know before the water arrives.
Pico Rivera at a glance
Incorporated
Pico Rivera became a city on January 29, 1958, and ZIP code 90660 is its main postal ZIP.
Housing
The 2020 Census counted 17,359 housing units, about 69 percent owner-occupied and about 31 percent rented.
Water suppliers
The City of Pico Rivera Water Division serves addresses inside its service area, and the Pico Water District serves addresses outside it.
Dispatch
Emergency dispatch is available around the clock for homes and businesses.
When water is spreading in Pico Rivera
With roughly seven in ten homes owner-occupied, most Pico Rivera losses are the owner's to fix. That makes fast mitigation more valuable, because the owner carries the cost of anything that stays wet.
Call the line as soon as you see water. If the source is a pipe, shut off the main valve. If it is a flooded yard or street water entering, do not wade through it, and keep power off if the panel is wet.
Close the main valve
Find it before an emergency. A stuck valve costs minutes you do not have.
Treat river and street water as dirty
Water from outside is treated as contaminated, so do not wade through it or run fans in it.
Power with caution
Stay out if water reaches outlets. Cut power only if the panel is dry and reachable.
Document first
Take photos of the water line and the damage before anything is moved.
Water from the street or a pipe?
Call the 24/7 line.
An earthquake and your plumbing
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake was centered in Pico Rivera on March 16, 2010. A shake that size can loosen water heater connections and crack older supply fittings without any visible damage. After any quake, check under sinks, around the water heater and along exterior walls for dampness, because a slow leak shows up days later as a stain.
Services most requested near the river
Because flood water from outside is usually Category 3, flood damage restoration leads for yards, garages and ground-floor rooms. Standing water inside a house is a job for emergency water removal, and what remains is handled by water damage cleanup. We also serve Monterey Park to the north.
Local places and why they matter to dispatch
The Pico Rivera Sports Arena on the north side and Smith Park on Rosemead Boulevard help crews find you when a street address is unclear. Mention the nearest cross streets, and tell the dispatcher whether the loss is at a home, a garage or a business.
Pico Rivera water suppliers and what to verify
The city website says the City of Pico Rivera Water Division serves addresses within its service area, while the Pico Water District serves addresses outside it. The county's address service tool linked on that page shows which provider serves a property. Use it before you call about a service line problem.
Pico Rivera water damage questions
Is emergency water removal available in Pico Rivera?
Yes. Crews take Pico Rivera calls at any hour, whether the water is from a pipe or from the street. Close the main valve, stay out of outside water, and a crew is sent the same day when one is available.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Pico Rivera?
We serve Pico Rivera's primary ZIP code, 90660, covering the area between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River and addresses near Rosemead Boulevard. If you are unsure, call and give the street address.
Does homeowner insurance cover flooding in Pico Rivera?
Flood damage is usually excluded from standard homeowner policies and needs separate flood coverage. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center for your address and ask your insurer.
Who do I call about a water main leak in Pico Rivera?
Call the water provider serving your address, either the City of Pico Rivera Water Division or the Pico Water District. Then call us for the damage inside.