The Program provides residents and homeowners with an affordable solution for complying with federal, state, and local government regulations and laws that require private property owners to maintain and repair buried sewer pipes (laterals) that leak, crack and create environmental hazards and contamination. The Private Sewer Lateral Program provides governments with a program to comply with the Clean Water Act by reducing excess sewage flows that cause sanitary sewer overflows, beach closures and public health risks.

Over time, private property sewer laterals reach their life expectancy, break/fail, become dis-jointed or displaced, and are vulnerable to intrusion by tree roots, causing leaks and blockages. Repairing or replacing a sewer lateral is a very costly process. Because these pipes are typically not covered under homeowner’s insurance, the cost comes from out-of-pocket funds, typically more than $7,500. Infiltration and exfiltration are terms used in the wastewater industry to describe the flow of raw sewage into the ground and into broken sewer laterals that cause pollution and contamination of streams, tributaries, and large waterbodies.

There is an annual enrollment period, in which residents are given the opportunity to join or opt-out of the program. Following the enrollment, participants can then call Pipelogix LMS Inc., when they experience an issue with their private sewer lateral.

Those residents and property owners who were unable to enroll, or those who opted-out of the program the previous year, will have the ability to enroll during the following year’s enrollment period.

Residents will be protected from the unexpected costs of repairing or replacing their sewer lateral. The cost of such repairs or replacements can be substantial and is otherwise the responsibility of the homeowner. Residents enrolled in the program will also be helping to protect the environment by addressing defective private property wastewater infrastructure.

Wastewater that leaks out of broken sewer lateral contaminates the groundwater. The infiltration of rainwater into broken sewer laterals increases flow into the wastewater collection system and overburdens the treatment facility. This causes sanitary sewer overflows which spill raw, untreated sewage directly into surrounding water bodies.

There are several indicators that would suggest there is an issue with your private sewer lateral, including:

  • Sewage backup in the lateral cleanout or trap (typically in your basement or lowest level)
  • Toilet/sink/shower not draining properly
  • Sink hole or collapsed/saturated lawn
  • Foul odors around your property

Call the municipality’s vendor, Pipelogix LMS, at 1-800-926-7910. You will explain the trouble you are experiencing, and a technician will be dispatched to your location to inspect the lateral and identify the issue. Once the problem is identified, necessary repairs will be made.