Who Is Responsible for the Side Sewer at a Bothell Home?

A side sewer, also called a sewer lateral or building sewer, is the underground pipe that carries wastewater from your home or business to the public sewer main. In Washington, "side sewer" is the term you will hear from plumbers, utilities and permit offices.

It usually has a cleanout, an access point that lets a plumber clear or camera the line, and it often runs under lawns, driveways and trees. That is why roots and shifting soil are common causes of side sewer problems.

Responsibility is usually divided at the property line or at the connection to the public main: the utility maintains the public main, and the property owner maintains the private side sewer. Northshore Utility District, for example, states that sewer piping on private property is an extension of the customer's plumbing system and is the responsibility of property owners. Silver Lake Water and Sewer District directs customers to hire a contractor to install a side sewer that meets District standards.

Boundaries and procedures vary by utility, so confirm yours before assuming who pays for a repair.

Bothell straddles King and Snohomish counties, and sewer service comes from the City of Bothell or from a utility district depending on the street. Your sewer or utility bill names your provider; if you do not have a separate bill, the City of Bothell can tell you which agency serves your property.

Generally, yes. Northshore Utility District states that a side sewer permit is required for all new sewer connections and for repairs or modifications to existing sewer connections on private property. Within the City of Bothell's sewer system, the Bothell Municipal Code requires a sewer permit to connect, repair or alter a side sewer (section 18.03.340, "Sanitary side sewer – Permit required").

Which agency issues the permit, and its fees and inspection steps, depend on your address. Ask your plumber or your utility before work starts.

• Slow drains throughout the house, not just one fixture
• Gurgling toilets or drains
• Backups in the lowest drains, such as a basement floor drain or a tub
• Sewer odors indoors or in the yard
• Soggy ground or an unusually green patch above the line
• Clogs that return soon after the line has been cleared

1. Stop using water: do not flush, run the dishwasher or do laundry.
2. Do not pour chemical drain cleaners into a backed-up line.
3. Call a plumber to clear the line and run a camera to find the cause.
4. If sewage is surfacing in the street or at a manhole, or neighbors are affected, contact your utility, because the public main may be involved.
5. Photograph any damage and contact your insurer if the backup caused it.

A sewer camera inspection shows where the problem is and what is causing it. A blockage can be cleared with drain cleaning or hydro jetting. If the pipe itself is cracked, broken or damaged by roots, repair or replacement is needed, and trenchless sewer repair can often avoid a long trench through the yard.