Cottage Grove at a glance
Facts from the city that shape plumbing work.
| Topic | What the city says | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 13 wells, 284 to 475 feet, Jordan aquifer | City well water |
| Hardness | About 298 parts per million, or 17 grains | Scales heaters and fixtures |
| Disinfectant | Chlorine, not chloramine | Differs from towns on St. Paul water |
| PFAS | Treatment plants in operation | See the city's water report |
| Sewer | Eagles Point wastewater treatment plant | The owner maintains the line to the main |
Hardness near 17 grains means a softener is worth a look. See water softener and filtration.
A town built in a hurry
Cottage Grove grew from about 800 people in 1950 to more than 13,000 by 1970 as suburban homes arrived in the late 1950s. Water heaters from those years have been replaced since, while original drains and shutoff valves may still be in service.
The city became a village in 1965 and a city in 1974. Town Hall at 9540 Islay Avenue South dates to 1881, and the Cedarhurst Mansion, Glacial Valley Park, Hamlet Park, Highlands Park and River Oaks Golf Course give neighborhoods their names. City Hall is at 12800 Ravine Parkway South.
What city code makes the owner responsible for
City code 8-1-7 makes the owner responsible for the sewer line from the premises to the main and for the water line to the curb stop. Code 8-1-14 prohibits sending storm or surface water to the sanitary sewer.
If your pump or downspout feeds the sanitary system, we reroute it. See sump pump for failed pumps, and water service line repair for the line to the curb stop.
Before We Arrive
A short list helps us start work.
Streets under construction
The city extended water mains in River Acres and Granada in 2020 and in Goodview in 2022. Work like that can stir up the lines.
Air in the lines
Sputtering faucets after main work usually clear. If they do not, call us.
Cloudy or rusty water
Run a cold tap for several minutes. If it stays discolored, we check the shutoff and the service line.
Pressure changes
A sudden change after street work deserves a look at the pressure and the shutoff valves.
Where we answer calls in Cottage Grove
What affects pricing in Cottage Grove
Local factors that move a quote.
Insurance may cover water damage from a sudden event but not pipe wear. Photograph before cleanup.
Nearby towns
We also serve Newport and Inver Grove Heights. For drains, start with drain cleaning.
Calls we get from Cottage Grove homes
The most frequent calls from the area are water heaters at the end of their life, kitchen drains with grease buildup and basements with sump trouble. Hard water makes the first one more likely, since scale shortens the life of a tank.
We also hear from owners who see rust-colored water after street work and from owners of homes from the 1960s who want an inspection before a sale. We answer all of them on the same 24/7 line.
Sources for this page
Wells, hardness, disinfectant and PFAS treatment come from the City of Cottage Grove's water reports. Owner responsibility comes from City Code 8-1-7 and 8-1-14. Plumbing work follows Minnesota Rules chapter 4714 and the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Questions people ask
We serve Cottage Grove, MN, ZIP code 55016. Call with your address and we will confirm coverage.
Yes. Our 24/7 line serves Cottage Grove day and night, and we book same-day appointments when available.
The city reports about 298 parts per million, or 17 grains. That is hard water.
City code 8-1-7 makes the owner responsible for the sewer line from the premises to the main.
Through the city building division portal.
The city says chlorine.