Quick answer
For water damage in China Spring, TX, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. For a leak at the meter, call the number on your water bill. For septic problems, call the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District at 254-299-2473. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours. Texas insurers must acknowledge your claim within 15 days.
Do this first
Local water and septic lines.
- Shut off the water. Close your main valve, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. China Spring is a Census-designated place with no city water department. Several water supply corporations serve the area; for a leak at the meter, call the number on your water bill. C S Community WSC is 254-836-1979.
- 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. Most homes in China Spring are on septic, so a backup into a tub or floor drain needs a septic check before the house is put back together.
Creeks feeding the Bosque River and Lake Waco can rise fast after heavy rain. Never drive through water over a road. Floodwater can carry sewage and septic runoff, so treat it as contaminated.
What to know about water damage in China Spring
1867
The year China Spring was founded. It was named for a spring in a chinaberry grove. Settlement of the area began as early as 1860, and a post office opened in May 1873.
Gins and gristmills
By the early 1880s China Spring had five steam cotton gins and gristmills, three general stores, a Methodist church, and 200 residents.
Source: Texas Almanac, China Spring
Its own school district
China Spring joined Bosqueville in 1963 to form the China Spring-Bosqueville school district, and became a separate independent school district two years later.
Source: Texas Almanac, China Spring
Septic for the whole county
Under an agreement between the City of Waco and McLennan County, the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District runs the septic (OSSF) program for the county, its cities, and Waco. The office is open 8 to 5 on weekdays at 401 Franklin Avenue.
Homes in China Spring
About 76% of homes are owner-occupied and the median value is about $248,400. About 34% were built before 1980, and the median home dates to 1989.
Small for a century
The China Spring population was reported at 214 from the 1930s through the 1960s and at 181 from the 1970s through 1990. The Census Bureau now counts about 1,126 people in the CDP.
Sources: Texas Almanac, Census Reporter
6 damaged homes
After the February 2021 winter storm, 17 homeowners in ZIP 76633 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 6 homes, totaling about $29,639. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station at Waco Regional Airport, about 7.9 miles away, averages 34.1 nights a year at or below 32°F and 2.2 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 15 and the last one after March 15. Pipes in outside walls, attics, and pier-and-beam crawlspaces are the first to split. It also averages 36.4 inches of rain a year, with about 11.4 days of an inch or more.
Check your ZIP
How often does McLennan County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 40 flash flood warnings that included McLennan County from 2016 through November 12, 2026, peaking at 16 in 2024. 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 | 8 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Cost and insurance in China Spring
How much does water damage restoration cost in China Spring?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Creek flooding needs a separate flood policy. Pier-and-beam crawlspaces and wet insulation take longer.
Water removal and restoration in China Spring
The company that answers handles burst pipes in hard freezes, septic backups, water heater and supply line leaks, and creek water after storms, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
China Spring questions
Who handles septic problems in China Spring?
The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, 254-299-2473, runs the septic (OSSF) program for all of McLennan County. A restoration company handles the cleanup inside the house.
Who do I call about a leak at the meter?
Call the number on your water bill. C S Community WSC, based in China Spring, is 254-836-1979. If you have no bill, you are on a well; turn off the pump breaker and call a plumber.
How cold does China Spring get?
The NOAA station at Waco Regional Airport, about 8 miles away, averages 34 nights a year at or below 32°F and about 2 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 15.
Is China Spring a city?
No. It is a Census-designated place with no city government, so water comes from water supply corporations or private wells, and the county health district handles septic permits.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 76633, including China Spring and nearby parts of northwestern McLennan County. For Ross, north of Waco, see the Ross page.
Related guides
Other Texas towns- Basement floor drain backing up
- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Water coming up through the basement floor
- Texas insurance claim deadlines, 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: