Which utility and which county is your Buford address in?
The answer decides who you call first. The City of Buford sits in both Gwinnett and Hall counties, with the northern part in Hall and the southern land along I-85 in Gwinnett, according to the city's 2045 plan. A house on one side of that line can deal with a different county office than a house a mile away.
Utilities are split the same way. The city says it provides water, sewer, gas and electric service to "various areas," which means some Buford mailing addresses are city customers and others are served by Gwinnett County Water Resources. Your water bill names the provider, so pull it up before you call anyone.
We take emergency calls from every Buford address, including both ZIPs, 30518 and 30519. If the problem is inside your walls, it is a plumbing job no matter whose name is on the bill.
Utility, city or plumber: who to call first
The meter is the usual dividing line. Gwinnett County Water Resources says everything on the customer side of the water meter belongs to the homeowner, and Buford homes on city water should ask the city where its side ends.
| What is happening | Call first | Where a plumber fits |
|---|---|---|
| Water main or street leak, no water at the whole block | Your water utility. City of Buford customer service is 678-889-4600, and Gwinnett Water Resources dispatch is 678.376.7000 | Not our job. We tell you so on the phone |
| Pipe burst inside the house or under the yard on your side of the meter | Shut off your main, then call our 24/7 line | Repair, see burst pipe repair and water line repair |
| Sewage backing up in one house only | Our 24/7 line | Clearing the lateral, see sewer line cleaning |
| Smell of gas | Leave the building, then the gas utility or 911 | After the gas utility clears the house |
Buford runs its own gas system. Check the bill to see whether your gas comes from the city or another provider.
Water where it should not be: what to do in the first minutes
Emergency plumbing in Buford follows the same order as anywhere, and the order saves floors. Call the 24/7 line while you do the first two steps, not after.
Shut off the main
Turn off the house shutoff, usually where the line enters the home. If you cannot find it or it will not turn, say so on the phone.
Keep people away from wet electrical areas
Stay out of rooms where water reaches outlets, a panel or a power strip. If water is near the panel, leave the circuit alone and tell the dispatcher.
Stop using drains during a backup
Every flush sends more water to a line that is already full.
Smell gas? Leave first
If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility, for most homes Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321, or 911, before calling a plumber.
Buford housing: mostly newer, with an old core downtown
Census estimates (ACS 2020 to 2024) put Buford at 5,939 housing units with a median build year of 1996. About 28.9 percent date from 2010 or later, and about 25.2 percent from before 1980.
That mix points the work. In newer homes, the calls are usually a failed supply line to a toilet or sink, a water heater that has reached the end of its tank life, or a slow drain from grease and wipes. A 1996 house can be well into its second or third water heater, so water heater repair and replacement come up often.
The city's plan names recent builds such as Lanier Harbor with 113 townhomes and City Walk with 59. In attached townhomes, a leak can run through a shared wall, so shutting off your own main fast matters for the neighbor as well.
The older streets near downtown
The same plan says older, more established single-family neighborhoods sit near Downtown and off Hamilton Mill Road, Thompson Mill Road and South Bogan Road.
In an older house, a wet spot on the floor or a hot-water bill that climbs with no change in habits can mean a slow leak you cannot see. Our leak detection work uses acoustic and thermal tools to find the source before anyone cuts into a wall or slab.
Water, sewer and permits in Buford
The City of Buford draws from Lake Lanier and also buys a share of its water from the Gwinnett County water plant. If the supply itself looks cloudy, call the utility at 678-889-4600, and call us if the trouble is at one fixture.
For sewer, the city's Public Service Department runs the collection system for city customers and sends septic questions to the Gwinnett County Health Department. If you are a Gwinnett Water Resources customer, the county says the property owner maintains the private sewer lateral and that a clog on your property is your responsibility. A repeat backup is a good reason to ask us about drain cleaning before it floods a floor.
Plumbing permits and inspections in the city go through the Inspection Department. The city lists 678-546-3514 and inspections@cityofbuford.com for scheduling, with next business day inspections and requests due by 4:00 p.m., and the Planning and Zoning page carries the plumbing affidavit form. For water heater swaps, ask the city and your installer.
Before We Get to Your Buford Home
Find your water bill
It tells the dispatcher whether you are a city of Buford or a Gwinnett Water Resources customer. That decides who handles a main-line problem and who handles yours.
Locate the cleanout if you can
A sewer cleanout is usually a capped pipe near the foundation or at the edge of the yard. Knowing where it is shortens a drain call.
Warn townhome neighbors
If you share a wall, tell the unit next door about the leak. Water can follow framing, and a neighbor may find damage before you do.
Clear the sink cabinet
In an older downtown house, empty the cabinet under the kitchen sink and the floor around the toilet. Old shutoff valves can be stiff.
Open gates and secure pets
Leave the side gate open and keep dogs inside so the technician can reach the meter and the cleanout.
Dispatched from Suwanee, serving Buford and the neighbors
We dispatch from Suwanee, about 6 miles from Buford by road, and we serve Buford, Suwanee and nearby towns. We have no office or crew inside Buford.
Neighbors in Duluth and Lawrenceville call the same number, and the full list is on our service area page.
Buford plumbing questions
Yes. We cover Buford ZIP codes 30518 and 30519. Calls are dispatched from our Suwanee location, and we serve the town and nearby towns, so give the street address when you call and the dispatcher will confirm it.
Yes. The 24/7 emergency line takes calls at night, on weekends and on holidays. While you wait, shut off the main, keep people away from wet electrical areas and stop using drains if sewage is backing up.
If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 first, then call us.
Check the name on your bill. The City of Buford serves "various areas," and some Buford addresses are on Gwinnett County Water Resources. If you are unsure, the City of Buford customer service line is 678-889-4600.
Yes, we serve Buford addresses on either side of the county line. Tell the dispatcher the street, and ask your own utility which office handles the main.