Quick answer
For water damage in Paynesville, 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 question, call Paynesville Public Works at 320-243-3714, extension 230. 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.
Public works questions go through City Hall at extension 230. 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 question, call Paynesville Public Works at 320-243-3714, extension 230.
- 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. About 38% of Paynesville homes were built before 1960, and the median home dates to 1972. Check older drain lines and basement walls first.
Paynesville's public works director handles questions about the city's drinking water.
What to know about water damage in Paynesville
90 to 157 feet
The depth range of the four wells that supply Paynesville's drinking water.
Platted in 1857
Edwin E. Payne platted the town in 1857 and it was named for him. The post office opened the same year.
Source: Wikipedia
Rebuilt after 1862
Residents evacuated during the 1862 Dakota War, and the townsite burned. It was rebuilt with an Army stockade.
Source: Wikipedia
Lake Koronis
Lake Koronis covers about 3,014 acres, and nearby Rice Lake about 1,509 acres.
Source: LakesnWoods
Three Paynesvilles
Paynesville incorporated as a village on July 2, 1887. It joined New Paynesville in 1904, and the name dropped New in 1905.
Homes in Paynesville
The median home dates to 1972, and about 66% were built before 1980. About 69% are owner-occupied, with a median value near $178,200.
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Cost and insurance in Paynesville
How much does water damage restoration cost in Paynesville?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Lake or river water from the Crow River or Lake Koronis that comes inside is a flood loss, which needs a separate flood policy. Near Lake Koronis, keep the sump pump running and check the floor drain before carpet and pad go back down.
Water removal and restoration in Paynesville
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.
Paynesville questions
Who do I call about Paynesville city water?
The Public Works Director, at 320-243-3714, extension 230.
Where does Paynesville's water come from?
Four city wells, 90 to 157 feet deep.
What lake is Paynesville on?
Lake Koronis, about 3,014 acres.
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: