Protect your environment, your waterways and your health by maintaining your private sewer lateral
A private sewer lateral carries wastewater from toilets, sinks, and drains of your home to the City sewer main usually running under the street and eventually the City of Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Plant. While the City regularly maintains and updates the sewer system it is the responsibility of each homeowner to maintain their private sewer lateral. Like many things around the house, private sewer laterals need regular maintenance and upkeep. With time, sewer laterals can crack or split allowing sewage to spill into your basement or yard and beyond.
Properly maintained sewer laterals prevent spills that contaminate nearby creeks, the San Lorenzo River and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and that make people, fish and wildlife sick.
This blog is a resource for homeowners, plumbers and realtors to learn more about private sewer laterals and new maintenance requirements proposed by the City of Santa Cruz. Learn more below or by calling the City of Santa Cruz Public Works Department at (831) 420-5160.
Updated language to the proposed sewer lateral ordinance
The proposed changes to the sewer system ordinance are three-fold: The owner of a property with a sewer spill is responsible for stopping the spill immediately and will be subject to fines and penalties if inspections and repairs are not made in a timely manner. Prior...
Here are your Santa Cruz Certified Plumbers!
Based on new sewer lateral inspection requirements, property owners will need to have their sewer laterals inspected by a Certified Plumber. Here is a list of companies whose 21 plumbers have completed the recent NASSCO training and certification. These plumbers were...
Opportunity for Public Comment
Share your opinion on new sewer lateral requirements... On Monday, September 18, the City of Santa Cruz Transportation and Public Works Commission will convene to discuss, among other items, the proposed changes to the City's Sanitary Sewer Ordinance. Proposed changes...
Sewer Lateral Story: Terry Ballantyne
I am in full support of the new changes to the ordinance calling attention to the condition of many sewer laterals in the city. The Westside has many old clay pipes that are long past their shelf life. If they have been invaded by thirsty trees, the every...
County Association of Realtors support water quality education for local realtors
Statement by Robert Singleton, Government Affairs Director, SCCAR The Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors® enhances the professionalism and integrity of our members, promote homeownership and protect private property rights in our community. We are always...
What Santa Cruz Can Learn from Bay Area Private Sewer Lateral Ordinances
The City of Santa Cruz Public Works Department is proposing changes to the City's existing sanitary sewer ordinance to require inspection of a private sewer lateral upon point of sale of a home. While the proposed changes are new to Santa Cruz, regulations on sewer...
Who to call when you have a sewer pipe leak!
Your sewer line cracks and suddenly you have a major backup on your hands. Who do you call? How can you ensure that you and your family are safe in your own home Beginning November 2017, homeowners will need to call a plumber from the City of Santa Cruz's list...
Become a Certified Sewer Inspector!
Are you a plumber in Santa Cruz? Get ready for new sewer lateral inspection requirements in the City of Santa Cruz. Beginning November 2017, the City of Santa Cruz will implement a revised Sanitary Sewer Ordinance. The revisions will require that only licensed...
Proposed changes to sanitary sewer ordinance – Read full draft ordinance here!
The City of Santa Cruz Public Works Department has added the following requirements to the existing sanitary sewer ordinance: The owner of a property that has a sewer spill is responsible for stopping the spill immediately and will be subject to fines and penalties if...
Inside the Pipes with Mike Pizzano
Mike Pizzano has been doing sewer lateral inspections, repairs and replacements in Santa Cruz since 1995. In this video we will learn from Mike about sewer lateral pipes and why homeowners should get their sewer lateral inspected. Stay tuned for a look inside a sewer...
Sewer Lateral Story: Linda Charman
"My recommendation to someone buying a new home in Santa Cruz is that they should have the sewer lateral inspected prior. As a listing agent, I would also recommend to the seller that they have sewer lateral inspection included with all the other inspections that we...
Sewer Lateral Story: Steve Wolfman
"The City of Santa Cruz is responsible for 160 miles of sewer main pipeline. We have two sewer crews that spend all day, five days a week, cleaning sewer main lines and inspecting them. We are also spending a million dollars a year replacing older lines that were...
Sewer Lateral Story: Drew Meyer
“We bought our house about a year ago and we didn’t know to inspect the sewer lateral. Shortly after moving in the sewer lateral broke and backed up which caused a massive plumbing problem for the whole house. It cost us a lot of money to go back and fix the plumbing...
New public information campaign to benefit health of San Lorenzo River –
The San Lorenzo River is cleaner than many may think, but continues to exceed state standards for acceptable levels of harmful bacteria in the water. Certain types of harmful bacteria like E. coli or Enterococcus can make people and animals sick. Harmful bacteria can...
City of Santa Cruz updates sewer mains
The City of Santa Cruz Public Works department maintains and repairs underground sewer mains that carry waste from homes and businesses to the Wastewater Treatment Facility. As pipes age overtime or the City infrastructure changes the City must update this important...
Protect your local waterways – Proteja sus arroyos locales
Sewage from your household could be contaminating your neighborhood creek. Check out this full map of creeks and wetland areas in Santa Cruz. Can you find your nearest waterway? Some flow into the San Lorenzo River, Neary Lagoon, or directly to local beaches and the...
Private Sewer Lateral 101 – Los Fundamentos de las Alcantarillas Privadas
A private sewer lateral is a pipe that carries waste from your home to the City’s sanitary sewer main, usually located under the street. Private sewer laterals of homes built before the 1950’s are often made out of clay with cement mortar joints. Over time, these clay...
Notice of Revisions to the City of Santa Cruz Sanitary Sewer Ordinance 2017 – Overflow of Private Sanitary Sewer
Dear City of Santa Cruz Resident or Property Owner, Did you know that as a property owner you are responsible for the maintenance and repair of your sewer lateral, the sewer pipe that goes from your house to connect to the main sewer pipe in the street? In fall of...
Notificación Ordenanza de Alcantarillado Sanitario de la Ciudad de Santa Cruz
Estimado propietario, ¿Sabía que, como dueño de una propiedad, es usted responsable del mantenimiento y reparación del alcantarillado lateral, que es el caño cloacal que va desde su casa al caño del alcantarillado de la ciudad en el medio de la calle? El Departamento...