Greer CPW or Greenville Water: who's your utility?
Greer runs its own Commission of Public Works. Greer CPW serves about 24,500 water customers across the city and surrounding area, with boundaries that roughly follow Highway 14, Highway 101, Highway 290, the Enoree River and Abner Creek (greercpw.com). Outside that territory, including some streets on the Pelham Road side, homes may be Greenville Water customers instead. The name on your water bill settles it.
| Greer CPW | Greenville Water | |
|---|---|---|
| Water source | Lake Robinson and Lake Cunningham, both fed by the South Tyger River; treatment plant beside Lake Cunningham | Table Rock and North Saluda reservoirs plus Lake Keowee |
| Sewer | CPW wastewater: Maple Creek treatment plant (permitted for 5 million gallons a day, 16,900+ accounts), 270 miles of gravity line and 31 pump stations; some flow goes to ReWa | Not a sewer provider; sewer is MetroConnects or a city system |
| Natural gas | Yes, CPW sells gas in its area | No (Piedmont Natural Gas serves most of the county) |
| Emergency number | On your CPW bill and at greercpw.com | (864) 241-6000, around-the-clock line |
Why it matters when something goes wrong
- Leak in the meter box or the street: call your water utility first, CPW or Greenville Water.
- Sewer overflowing in the street: CPW if it bills you for sewer; otherwise MetroConnects, (864) 277-4442.
- Gas smell: leave the house, call 911 from outside, then CPW if it supplies your gas (or Piedmont Natural Gas).
- Everything on your side of the meter, from the service line to the water heater, is a job for a licensed plumber.
Greer quick facts
| ZIP codes | 29650 and 29651 (29652 is PO boxes) |
|---|---|
| Counties | Greenville and Spartanburg |
| People / homes | About 41,500 people in about 17,600 housing units |
| Median year built | 2003, with 34% of homes built in 2010 or later |
| Owner-occupied | 73% |
| Permits | City of Greer Building & Development inside city limits; the county (Greenville or Spartanburg) outside them |
Two counties, one city
Greer straddles the Greenville–Spartanburg county line. GSP International Airport and BMW's plant sit to the east, on the Spartanburg side. Inside city limits, permits for a water heater swap or repipe go through the City of Greer, whichever county you're in. Outside city limits, the county you're in issues them. Ask your plumber which office handles your address and whether the permit is in the price.
Need a plumber in Greer?
A fast-growing city: new homes, aging tanks
About 57% of Greer's homes were built in 2000 or later, and 34% since 2010 (Census ACS 2020–2024). Neighborhoods along the Pelham Road corridor and around the city's growth areas are mostly PEX supply with PVC drains: solid systems with a few predictable failure points.
- Original water heaters: a tank installed with a 2010–2015 house is now 11–16 years old, past the typical 8–12 years. See repair or replace by age.
- Gas or electric: because CPW sells natural gas, many Greer homes have gas water heaters. Replacing like for like is simplest; switching fuel needs new piping or wiring and a permit.
- Pressure and expansion: a failing pressure-reducing valve or a waterlogged expansion tank shows up as banging pipes, running toilets and a dripping relief valve.
- Builder-grade fixtures: cartridges in faucets and fill valves in toilets are common early replacements.
Old Greer: Trade Street and the original town
Greer also has an old core. About 7% of homes predate 1950 and another 13% were built in the 1950s and 1960s, mostly around downtown and the Trade Street historic district. Those homes are where galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drains and older clay sewer laterals show up, along with tree roots from mature yards. If drains back up throughout an older Greer house, ask for a camera inspection of the lateral before paying for repeated cleanings.
Greer CPW's freeze advice
Greer CPW publishes a frozen-pipe prevention guide each fall. The advice matches what Greenville Water gives: protect outdoor faucets, open cabinets on exterior walls, drip faucets in a hard freeze, and keep crawlspace vents closed while it's below freezing. Our frozen pipes guide covers the steps and the recent Upstate freezes.
How do I find the best plumber in Greer?
- Licensed for gas as well as water, if you have a CPW or Piedmont gas water heater or appliance.
- Familiar with CPW territory: knows when to send you to CPW first and when the problem is yours.
- Knows the right permit office: City of Greer, or Greenville or Spartanburg County.
- Verifiable SC license: look it up on the SC LLR website.
- A written price that lists the tank size and fuel, connectors, expansion tank, permit and haul-away.
What plumbing costs around Greer
| Job | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer line replacement | $60–$250 per linear foot | Angi, Greer SC, 2026 |
| Gas line repair or install | $380–$800 (average about $537) | Angi, Greenville SC, 2026 |
| Tank water heater, installed (40–50 gal) | About $1,200–$3,500 | National guides, 2026 (local prices may differ) |
| Drain cleaning | $152–$421 (average about $240) | HomeAdvisor, Greenville SC, 2026 |
| Trip / diagnostic fee | About $45–$89, sometimes waived if you hire | Greenville-area listings, 2026 |
Greer-specific figures for leaks, faucets, toilets and main water lines are in our plumber cost guide.
Around Greer
- Trade Street and downtown: the historic commercial district; the oldest housing and laterals are nearby.
- Greer City Park: next to downtown, surrounded by some of the city's older streets.
- Lake Robinson and Lake Cunningham: CPW's own reservoirs north of the city, which supply your tap if you're a CPW customer.
- Pelham Road corridor: large 1990s–2010s neighborhoods, where water heater and pressure questions dominate; some addresses here are Greenville Water rather than CPW.
Talk to a plumber who works in Greer
Greer plumbing questions
Is my Greer home on Greer CPW or Greenville Water?
Check your water bill. Most of the City of Greer and nearby areas are Greer CPW customers, while some streets, including parts of the Pelham Road side, are served by Greenville Water. Boundaries follow utility lines, not ZIP codes.
Who do I call about a gas leak in Greer?
Leave the house first and call 911 from outside. Then call your gas supplier: Greer CPW if it bills you for gas, otherwise Piedmont Natural Gas. A plumber repairs gas piping once the gas company has made it safe.
Which county is my Greer house in?
Greer is in both Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Your property tax bill shows which. Inside city limits, the City of Greer handles building permits either way.
Should I replace my gas water heater with gas or electric?
If you already have gas, a gas tank is usually the simpler replacement and recovers faster. Switching to electric may need a new circuit; switching to gas needs piping and venting. Either change needs a permit. Ask a plumber to price both.
Who handles sewer problems in Greer?
Greer CPW provides sewer for much of the city through its Maple Creek system. If sewage is coming from the street or a manhole, call your sewer provider. If it's only backing up in your house, the blockage is usually in your private lateral, which a plumber fixes; CPW can tell you where its responsibility ends.
My Greer water bill jumped. How do I check for a leak?
Turn off every faucet and appliance, then watch the meter's leak indicator or dial for 15 minutes. If it moves, water is escaping somewhere. Running toilets are the most common culprit; if the toilets are fine, a plumber can trace the leak; see our leak detection guide.
Sources
- Greer CPW: water, wastewater and rates pages; frozen-pipe prevention guide (Oct 2026). greercpw.com
- Greenville Water: service area and emergency line. greenvillewater.com
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Greer city: tables B01003, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077 (via Census Reporter).
- Angi (Greer and Greenville, SC), HomeAdvisor (Greenville, SC) and national water heater guides, 2026.
Page history
October 2026: first published.