Quick answer
For water damage in Cold Spring, MN, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. For a city water or sewer question, call Cold Spring City Hall at 320-685-3653. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours. Minnesota law gives insurers 10 business days to acknowledge a claim.
Do this first
Local water and sewer lines.
City Hall is at 27 Red River Ave. S. and is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Stearns County Environmental Services septic line is on the St. Joseph page.
- Shut off the water. Shut off the main valve where the line enters the house. For a city water or sewer question, call Cold Spring City Hall at 320-685-3653.
- 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. The median Cold Spring home dates to 1992, and about 12% were built in 2010 or later. Check the water heater and supply lines first.
Cold Spring has finished its inventory of water service line materials and sent the results to the Minnesota Department of Health.
What to know about water damage in Cold Spring
First in Minnesota
Cold Spring's water treatment plant, online since May 2023, was the first in the state to remove nitrate biologically. The $6 million plant treats 500 gallons a minute.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health
Platted in 1856
Cold Spring was platted in 1856 and named for the many springs near the original town site.
Source: Wikipedia
Trading post
In 1852 Ashley Riggs set up a trading post here on the Red River trail, bringing goods up the Sauk by boat.
Source: City of Cold Spring
Sauk River chain
The Sauk River cuts through the city from the southwest. Cold Spring sits at the gateway of the Sauk River Chain of Lakes, 14 connected lakes.
Source: Wikipedia
Brewery since 1874
The Cold Spring Brewery was first built in 1874 and remains a major employer in town.
Source: Wikipedia
Homes in Cold Spring
The median home dates to 1992, and about 38% were built before 1980. About 67% are owner-occupied, with a median value near $280,400.
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Cost and insurance in Cold Spring
How much does water damage restoration cost in Cold Spring?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Sauk River water that rises into the house is a flood loss, which needs a separate flood policy. Near the Sauk River, keep the sump pump running and check the floor drain before flooring goes back down.
Water removal and restoration in Cold Spring
The company that answers handles basement leaks, sump pump failures, sewer backups, frozen pipes, and water heater failures, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Cold Spring questions
Who do I call about Cold Spring city water or sewer?
Cold Spring City Hall, at 320-685-3653, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How does Cold Spring treat its water?
Its plant, online since May 2023, removes nitrate biologically, the first in Minnesota to do so.
What river runs through Cold Spring?
The Sauk River.
Where is the Stearns County septic line?
On the St. Joseph page.
Related guides
Other Minnesota towns- Basement floor drain backing up
- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Water coming up through the basement floor
- Minnesota insurance claim rules, in plain English
- Frozen and burst pipes: what to do
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- How long water damage takes to dry
Local phone numbers checked November 2026: