Buyer Protection - Get Inspected

Very few property owners are aware that they are responsible for the sewer line (sewer lateral) from the building to the city main. Broken, flat, bellied, offset, or root-infested sewer lines can cause sewage to back up into the house or commercial building leading to extensive property damage in the home or business. Sewer back-ups can cause thousands of dollars in property damage and loss of valuable operating time for businesses. Although insurance companies will usually pay for cleanup and restoration; repair or replacement of the line is typically excluded, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Standard home inspections do not cover the structural integrity or condition of sewer or septic lines. Having a sewer or septic line inspection prior to purchasing a property is a proactive and innovative approach to make an educated buying decision, plan for upcoming maintenance, budget for necessary repairs, or gain valuable purchase price negotiation.

A private sewer lateral (PSL) is the pipe that connects a business or home’s plumbing system to the City’s wastewater collection main pipeline. The lateral is considered the “private” segment when it is located on private property and serves the purposes of an individual, privately-owned building. The property owner is responsible for entire pipe length, including the wye or saddle at the point of connection to the City's mainline.

City, County and private sanitary districts are responsible for the maintenance of the main pipelines that carry used water from homes and businesses and to protect public health and safety, these pipes are regularly inspected and repaired to maintain their integrity. With thousands of private sewer laterals in the City, property and owners are important partners in assuring that complete systems pipes are properly maintained.