Sewer Maintenance
Sewer Maintenance
If you have a sewer back up and you should contact your plumber immediately. Most of the time the problem is your private sewer lateral which City does not maintain. If your plumber suspects the problem is not in your building or private sewer lateral, you can call West Hollywood City Hall at (323) 848-6375 or after hours call the Los Angeles County Sewer Maintenance Dispatcher at 1-800-675-HELP(4357). Sewer maintenance crews are available to respond to your sewer service problems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What is a Private Sewer Lateral?
Every home and business has a pipe that drains wastewater to the City owned sewer mainline. That pipe is called a private lateral. The City owned sewer main connects to regional sewer lines which transport sewage to the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in Playa Del Rey.
Property Owner’s Responsibility
Private property owners are responsible for properly operating and maintaining their enitre private sewer laterals. As you can see in the diagram, the sewer lateral includes the portion under the sidewalk, under the street and includes the point of connection to where it joins the City's sewer main. Sewer mains usually run parallel with the street and sewer laterals, which the property owner maintains, usually run perpendicular to the street. The proper maintenance of a private sewer lateral is important because the line can clog with roots and grease, and may cause a backup inside a home or business. A spill can also result in public and/or environmental health concerns.
How a Property Owner Can Maintain a Functional Sewer Lateral?
1. Have your sewer lateral video inspected and cleaned routinely as necessary
2. Repair or replace deteriorated or damaged lateral pipes as soon as possible
3. Do not plant trees or large shrubs near sewer lateral pipes.
4. Never pour paint or building materials down a drain.
There are tree roots in my line, apparently from a city parkway tree. My plumber says the line must be broken, and he wants a lot of money to fix it. What should I do?
First, find out if the line is actually broken. This can be done using a TV camera designed to fit in the sewer pipe. Your plumber may be able to do this. If it is not broken (small cracks are common) and the line is clear, a regular treatment of root killer will mitigate root intrusion. If the line is broken, obtain several price quotations for its repair as prices vary greatly.
What is "Root Killer"?
Root killer is a generic term for a line of products that soften and destroy tree roots on contact. They are available at hardware stores. Used as directed, they alleviate most root problems, and should be a part of a regular sewer maintenance program. Their use for cleaning pipes will not harm the tree.
Can my plumber work on my sewer line?
If the work is to be done entirely on your private property, yes. A plumber with a C-36 Contractors license can do the work. An Encroachment Permit from the City would be necessary to work within public right of way (e.g. under the sidewalk, in the parkway or the street). An Engineering Class A, Sewer Contractor Class C-42, or Pipeline Class C-34 license and a $1,000,000 Insurance policy naming the City as an additional insured are required to do work within public right of way. To obtain an Encroachment Permit, contact the City’s Public Works Inspector at (323) 848-6375.