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.

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

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

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...

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!

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...

Inside the Pipes with Mike Pizzano

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

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

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

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...

City of Santa Cruz updates sewer mains

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...