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Drainage & Sewer
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Drainage System Information & Inspections
Your Property’s Side Sewer
What Is a Side Sewer?
It is the section of pipe that carries wastewater from your home or building’s plumbing system to the public sewer main (usually located under the street).
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Why should I care?
- • Property owners are responsible for maintaining and repairing their side sewer.
- • Replacement is expensive. A side sewer that fails has the potential to cost property owners thousands of dollars to replace. As the property owner, you are responsible for replacing any sidewalks and roadway removed during the repair. When buying a property, it is recommended that you have the side sewer inspected for any problems in the foreseeable future.
Maintenance is important. The primary problem associated with side sewers is sewer backups into homes or businesses. Some causes and solutions include:
- • Tree roots penetrating pipes, especially older ones made of clay. Rooter services can unclog a side sewer. Just be sure to have the line cleared to the city’s main sewer line.
- • Fats, oils and grease improperly disposed of down drains also cause blockages. Homeowners should properly dispose of them in a sealed container in your trash. Businesses can find helpful information from Resource Venture.
When you do have a problem, questions you should ask include:
- • Where is the blockage? If your line is cleared by a drain cleaning service provider have them write down where they believe the blockage to be. Also have them mark the spot on the ground. This information is helpful in determining if the problem is within the city’s area of responsibility. The mark can also be helpful if you must dig up the pipe to repair it.
- • What is causing the problem? Have the service provider write down the probable cause of the blockage. Knowing the type of blockage will help determine what method should be used to open it, and if regular maintenance is needed in the future.
Lastly, it is best to call a private company first. Because the problem is likely in your private side sewer line, critical time may be wasted contacting the city. However, if sewage is coming into your property when you are not using water, you should call for a Seattle Public Utilities’ maintenance crew immediately at (206) 386-1800.
View our brochure on Troubleshooting Your Sewer Problem (PDF) or learn more by reading the Side Sewer FAQ (PDF).
Visit Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development website to view additional information:
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