Quick answer
For water damage in Covington, GA, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. City customers call 770-385-2000 at any hour; Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority customers call 770-385-3939 after hours. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours, before mold sets in.
Do this first
After-hours water lines.
- Shut off the water. Close your main valve, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. The City of Covington runs water and sewer with licensed staff on call around the clock; city customers call 770-385-2000. Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority customers call 770-385-3939 for water after hours.
- Make it safe and document it. Cut power to wet rooms from a dry spot, photograph the damage, then report the claim.
- Start drying within 24 to 48 hours. Crawlspaces, basements, and slab homes with carpet hold moisture longer than they look.
FEMA's flood map puts about 6% of the land inside Covington in the high-risk flood zone, mostly along Dried Indian Creek, Alcovy River, and Cornish Creek. The map panels for this area took effect between 2014 and 2016. Check your own address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Never drive or walk through moving water, and treat floodwater as contaminated.
What to know about water damage in Covington
49%
Share of Covington homes that are owner-occupied, so about half of households rent. The median home was built in 1989, and 17% are in buildings with 10 or more units. In a rental, stop the water if you can reach the valve, then tell the landlord in writing; the owner's policy covers the building and a renters policy covers your belongings.
The Alcovy River
Two Weather Service gauges bracket Covington on the Alcovy River. Above town, at Alcovy Trestle Road, flooding starts at 12 feet; the record is 14.79 feet in March 1976, and it reached 13.13 feet in January 2024. Below town, at Henderson Mill Road, the 1887 record of 27.2 feet still stands, and at 20 feet a house beside the bridge has about three feet of water inside.
Sources: NWS gauge above Covington, NWS gauge below Covington
A city water system since 1910
Covington's water and sewer systems date to 1910. The city serves about 9,000 homes through roughly 185 miles of water main and more than 125 miles of sewer line, inside and outside city limits. Parts of Covington, Porterdale and Newborn get water from Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority instead, so the bill decides who to call.
Sources: City of Covington water and sewer, Georgia DCA service delivery map
County seat since 1821
Covington was laid out in 1821 as the seat of the new Newton County and named for General Leonard Covington, a War of 1812 officer. The railroad came in 1845. The downtown square and Floyd Street form the Covington Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1998.
Source: Wikipedia
28 damaged homes
After the September 2009 floods, 50 homeowners in ZIP 30014 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 28 homes, totaling about $271,102. The January 2023 tornadoes added 23 more. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
12 flood insurance claims
Since 1992, the National Flood Insurance Program has recorded 12 flood claims on buildings in ZIP 30014. The most came in 2015, with 4, from the December 2015 storms. Of those, 5 were on buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zone. Buildings without flood insurance are not counted.
Source: FEMA NFIP claims data (OpenFEMA)
Pace Street floodplain
The City of Covington has sought contractors to restore the Pace Street floodplain by removing built-up sediment, improving drainage capacity, and stabilizing eroded ground.
Source: City of Covington bid notice
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station at Covington averages 62 nights a year at or below 32°F and 8 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 14 and the last one after March 22, so pipes in crawlspaces and outside walls are exposed for much of the year. It also averages 50 inches of rain a year, with about 15 days of an inch or more.
Check your ZIP
How often does Newton County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 23 flash flood warnings that included Newton County from 2016 through November 11, 2026, peaking at 6 in 2019. Each one means flooding is happening or about to happen.
Source: our count from the National Weather Service warning archive, Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
| Year | Warnings |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Cost and insurance in Covington
How much does water damage restoration cost in Covington?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Alcovy River and creek flooding needs a separate flood policy. Older homes on crawlspaces and slab homes with carpet take longer.
Other Newton County numbers
Septic backup
The Newton County Environmental Health office handles septic permits and failing systems: 770-784-2121. For a public health emergency after hours, the state line is 1-866-782-4584.
Emergency management
Newton County EMA posts storm and flood updates and coordinates shelters and road closures: 770-784-2127. Call 911 for anyone in danger.
Source: Newton County
Power outage
More than one utility serves Newton County, so call the one on your power bill. It depends on your address.
- City of Covington electric, city customers (24 hours): 770-385-2000
- Georgia Power: 888-891-0938
- Snapping Shoals EMC: 678-814-4961
- Walton EMC: 678-639-3300
Sources: each utility's outage page; county list from Georgia 811
Water removal and restoration in Covington
The company that answers handles Alcovy River and creek floodwater, burst pipes in historic downtown homes, and sewer backups, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Covington questions
Am I on city water or county water?
Check your bill. City of Covington customers call 770-385-2000, which the city answers 24 hours a day. Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority customers call 770-787-1375 on weekdays, 770-385-3939 for water after hours, or 678-776-1295 for sewer after hours.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 30014, including Covington and nearby parts of the county. For Porterdale, see the Porterdale page.
Related guides
Other Georgia towns- Sewage backup: what to do first
- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- Mold after water damage
- Mold remediation cost
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- How long water damage takes to dry
- Water in the crawl space
Local phone numbers checked November 2026: