Quick answer
For water damage in St. Joseph, 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 the St. Joseph Public Works Director at 320-363-7201. 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 offices are at 75 Callaway St. E. The Stearns County line also covers Avon, Kimball, Freeport, Richmond, Holdingford, St. Stephen, St. Martin, Paynesville, Albany, and Cold Spring.
- Shut off the water. Shut off the main valve where the line enters the house. To replace the valve before the meter, St. Joseph Utilities must shut the water off at the curb stop. Call 320-557-7399 at least 48 hours ahead.
- 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 St. Joseph home dates to 1992, and about 36% are rentals. Tenants should report a leak to the owner right away.
St. Joseph does not allow sump pumps to drain into the city sanitary sewer. In large storms, that water can overload the system and back sewage into homes.
What to know about water damage in St. Joseph
64 to 75 feet
The depth range of the six wells that supply St. Joseph's drinking water from the Quaternary Water Table aquifer.
Laid out in 1855
German and Slovenian settlers named St. Joseph for the patron saint of their log chapel. The town was laid out in 1855.
Source: Wikipedia
College of Saint Benedict
The college opened in 1913 with six students and is paired with Saint John's University in nearby Collegeville Township.
Source: Wikipedia
Sump pump rule
Sump pumps must drain outside. Connecting one to the sanitary sewer is illegal when the home is on city sewer.
Source: City of St. Joseph
Homes in St. Joseph
The median home dates to 1992, and about 20% were built in 2010 or later. About 64% are owner-occupied, with a median value near $237,700.
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Cost and insurance in St. Joseph
How much does water damage restoration cost in St. Joseph?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Storm water that runs in from outside is a flood loss, which needs a separate flood policy. In a St. Joseph rental, the tenant and owner should both keep photos of the damage and the drying readings.
Water removal and restoration in St. Joseph
The company that answers handles sump pump failures, sewer backups, rental unit leaks, frozen pipes, and water heater failures, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
St. Joseph questions
Who do I call about St. Joseph city water?
The Public Works Director, at 320-363-7201.
Who shuts off water at the curb stop in St. Joseph?
St. Joseph Utilities. Call 320-557-7399 at least 48 hours before the repair.
Can a St. Joseph sump pump drain into the sewer?
No. It must discharge outside.
Who handles septic systems in Stearns County?
Stearns County Environmental Services, at 320-656-3600.
Related guides
Other Minnesota towns- Sewage backup: what to do first
- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- Burst pipe repair cost
- 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: