Quick answer
For water damage in Richmond, 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 problem, call Richmond City Hall at 320-597-2075. 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 45 Hall Ave. SW. 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 problem, call Richmond City Hall at 320-597-2075.
- 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 Richmond home dates to 1976, and about 37% were built before 1960. Check basement plumbing and the sump pit first.
Richmond lists Jim Hemmesch of PeopleService as its water and wastewater contact. Phone questions go through City Hall.
What to know about water damage in Richmond
Over a dozen lakes
The Horseshoe Chain of Lakes along the Sauk River, the largest being Horseshoe Lake.
Source: Wikipedia
Once called Torah
Richmond incorporated in 1890 under the name Torah, because another Minnesota town was already named Richmond. The name changed in 1909.
Source: Wikipedia
Platted in 1856
Reuben Richardson, a Sauk Rapids farmer who later served in the legislature, platted Richmond in 1856.
Source: Wikipedia
Pontoon boat
The pontoon boat was invented in Richmond in the 1950s by Ambrose Weeres and Edwin Torborg.
Source: Wikipedia
Granite Country
Granite has been quarried around Richmond for more than 100 years, at about twenty quarries.
Source: Wikipedia
Homes in Richmond
The median home dates to 1976, and about 55% were built before 1980. About 86% are owner-occupied, with a median value near $241,300.
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Cost and insurance in Richmond
How much does water damage restoration cost in Richmond?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Lake or river water that rises into the house is a flood loss, which needs a separate flood policy. Around the Richmond lakes, keep the sump pump running and its discharge line clear until moisture readings come back dry.
Water removal and restoration in Richmond
The company that answers handles sump pump failures, lake-area basement water, frozen pipes, water heater failures, and sewer backups, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Richmond questions
What is the Richmond City Hall number?
320-597-2075.
Who is the Richmond public works director?
Gordy Dingmann, at 320-333-2923.
What was Richmond first called?
Torah, from its 1890 incorporation until 1909.
What lakes are near Richmond?
The Horseshoe Chain of Lakes, along the Sauk River.
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: