Most Houston homeowners never think about their sewer system until something goes wrong. But understanding how it works makes you a dramatically better problem-diagnoser and saves you money by knowing what’s your responsibility versus the city’s. Repipe Solutions Inc put together this plain-English breakdown of how the Houston sewer system actually works for Greater Houston residents.
Your House Side
Every drain, toilet, shower, and sink in your home connects to branch lines that all merge into one main drain running horizontally under your slab or crawlspace. That main drain exits the house and becomes the sewer lateral, also called the service line.
The Sewer Lateral
This is the pipe that runs from your house to the city’s main sewer line in the street. In Houston, it’s typically 4 inches in diameter, buried 3 to 6 feet deep depending on the neighborhood. It’s made of cast iron in older homes (pre-1980), clay tile in very old homes (pre-1960), or PVC in newer construction.
Who Owns the Lateral
This is where Houston homeowners get surprised. You own the entire lateral from your house all the way to the city main, including the portion under the street right of way. If it breaks or clogs anywhere along its length, it’s your bill.
The Cleanout
Somewhere between your house and the street, there should be a vertical pipe with a cap called the sewer cleanout. This is the access point plumbers use to snake or hydro jet the lateral. If you don’t know where yours is, find it before you have an emergency.
The City Main
Your lateral connects to a much larger pipe (usually 8 to 24 inches) running under the street. This is owned and maintained by the City of Houston or your MUD district in unincorporated Harris County. From there, wastewater flows by gravity toward lift stations and eventually to one of Houston’s 39 wastewater treatment plants.
Where It Usually Goes Wrong
In Houston’s sewer system, the failure point is almost always the lateral between your house and the street, most commonly 10 to 30 feet from the house. Roots, bellied pipes, and broken clay tile are the top three culprits.
What the City Will and Won’t Fix
The city will clear blockages in the main, but will not touch your lateral, even if the blockage is within inches of the main connection. If the main is backed up and causing your home to flood, call the city. If your lateral is the problem, call Repipe Solutions Inc. We service sewer laterals throughout the Greater Houston Area with camera inspections, hydro jetting, trenchless repair, and full replacements. Call us at 832-662-4288.
