What is a sewer lateral?

A sewer lateral or house lateral is the pipeline between the house or building and Village sanitary sewer main. The connection is usually located in the street. The lateral is owned and maintained by the property owner including extensions into the street or public right of way. Mostly the cause of a backup in the lateral is from items such as childrens toys, underwear, towels, diapers, and paper products (other than toilet paper). To avoid flushing these items close the toilet lid. Roots are another cause of a sewer backup. The lateral is the responsibility of the owner of the property. Even if what you flush down your toilet doesn't affect you, it may cause problems for neighbors!  more

A sewer lateral is the underground pipe that connects a residence or business to the sewer line. Generally, it is made of ductile iron at least 4 inches in diameter. Some local governments consider the entire connecting pipe to be the property of the homeowner or business owner. In other places, a city or county will assume responsibility for the portion of a sewer lateral from the main line to the property line. Sewer laterals can account for more than 50 percent of the pipe in some systems. Unfortunately, the privately owned underground section of a lateral is often taken for granted until a problem erupts that can't be ignored -- such as raw sewage backing up into a dwelling. A number of things can compromise a lateral. Foreign substances or objects such as grease or disposable diapers flushed down a toilet can sometimes create a clog. Tree roots occasionally push through the side of a lateral. Or, over time, a very old sewer lateral pipe can simply corrode and crack. Although ...  more

Within the Castro Valley Sanitary District, the building lateral is defined as the portion of the sewer system, beginning at the junction with the building plumbing system, usually located within two (2) feet of the foundation of the building, and extending to and including the connection to the public sewer main (see Figure #1, above). The building lateral is the private property of the property owner who is, therefore, responsible for all costs relating to the installation, connection, maintenance, repair, construction, alteration, abandonment or removal of the building lateral. These building laterals are often a significant source of infiltration and inflow, or “I/I”. The Lateral Replacement Grant Program, or “LRGP”, is designed to help defray a portion of the costs when the property owner or their agent is required to replace the entire lateral including the connection to the main. $50,000 AUTHORIZED for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The District has allocated funds to renew the ...  more

A sewer lateral is the pipe that carries the wastewater from the house to the sanitary sewer main line in the street. Every building receiving sewer service from Redwood City has at least one sewer lateral.  more

A sewer lateral is the pipe that carries the sewage from the house to the sewer main, which is owned and maintained by MSD. It starts at the outside wall of your house and continues to the sewer main.  more

A sewer lateral is the pipe that carries the wastewater from the house to the sanitary sewer main line in the street. Every building receiving sewer service from the City of Minneapolis has at least one sewer lateral.  more

A sewer lateral or house lateral is the pipeline between the City sanitary sewer main, usually located in the street, and the building. The sewer lateral is owned and maintained by the property owner including any part, which may extend into the street or public right of way. More often than not, the cause of a backup in your lateral is from items that the line is not meant to handle, such as kid's toys, underwear, towels, diapers, paper products (other than toilet paper) keys and even false teeth. To avoid flushing these items, remember to close the toilet lid. What you flush down your toilet may not affect you, but it might cause problems for your neighbors! Another possible cause would be roots in your lateral. The lateral is the responsibility of the owner of the property from the house to the street.  more

A sewer that discharges into a branch or other sewer and has no other sewer, and no common sewer tributary to it. For more information, please call (619) 397-6000.  more