Inspect and Maintain Your Sewer Lateral

Sewer laterals, which connect a home or business to the District’s
sewer system, are the responsibility of the property owner.

To avoid cracks and leaks, caused by age, that can lead to
large water inflows during storms, threatening to overload the
treatment plant and cause sewage spills, here are steps you
can take when you buy a home or encounter periodic plumbing
backup problems:

Inspect -

TV or Video inspection will show defects in the lateral, such as cracks that allow root intrusion, open or offset joints, and sags that allow debris and grease to accumulate. Any of these can eventually clog the sewer and cause your line to back up and overflow your home.

Water or air testing also will show defects, but will not reveal the type or location of the problem, although it will indicate that the pipe is leaking and needs repair.

Maintain -

Laterals can be cleaned with rooter type equipment, be completely replaced by trenching, or repaired with new technologies that don’t require extensive digging, among them “lining” and “pipe bursting.”
Use a licensed and insured plumbing contractor who can provide advice, inspection and replacement or repair of laterals. Make sure the contractor is aware of District standards. You can verify licensing and get tips about hiring a contractor by visiting a website at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800-321-2752.
Make sure your outside drains and gutters flow into a storm drain and not into your sewer lateral.
All repairs must comply with District standards and be inspected by a District Inspector.
Repairs made in the public right-of-way, such as a street or sidewalk, require an encroachment permit, usually from a city or county Public Works Department.
For more information, call the District at 415.259.2949.