What does the City of St. Louis say about laterals?
That the right of way and private property are treated differently. The city's Sewer Lateral Repair Program covers repairs under the right of way, and breaks on private property are the homeowner's complete responsibility.
That makes knowing where a break sits worth money. A camera inspection from the cleanout can show visible damage and its location, and sewer line jetting clears blockages on the private side. Call for information about the service and to book a time.
Why are St. Louis laterals so old?
Because the city is old. Soulard, Lafayette Square, Tower Grove and the Hill hold brick houses and flats from the 1800s and early 1900s.
Vitrified clay laterals from that era have many joints, and big city trees such as maples and sycamores reach them. Tree root removal clears roots, and a camera records what is there.
Who maintains which part of the line in St. Louis?
The city's Sewer Lateral Repair Program splits repairs by location.
| Part of the line | Who maintains it | What it means when a line clogs |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral under the public right of way | City of St. Louis program | Eligible repairs fall under the Sewer Lateral Repair Program |
| Lateral on private property | Homeowner | Breaks here are the owner's complete responsibility |
| Public sewer mains | Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District | Report a suspected main problem to the district |
How does St. Louis's geology affect sewers?
Hills, creeks and old mines. The metro sits over limestone with many buried creeks and old mine areas, which affect lines' depth and grade.
Steep lots and buried creek lines mean some cleanouts are far from the house. A pro can locate them before work. Heavy storms also stress the public system, so a clear private line removes one possible cause.
Which St. Louis kitchens book grease line work?
Hill Italian restaurants, Cherokee Street and Central West End kitchens, and Soulard bars.
Commercial grease line jetting clears kitchen lines, and drain jetting cleans branch lines in flats.
Which hydro jetting services can you book in St. Louis?
Every service on this site is available in St. Louis, for a Soulard rowhouse, a Dogtown bungalow or a Hill restaurant.
- Sewer line jetting for the private lateral from cleanout toward the right of way
- Sewer camera inspection to locate a break before applying to a city program
- Tree root removal for roots from city shade trees
- Drain jetting for kitchen, laundry and bath branches in flats
- Commercial grease line jetting for Hill, Cherokee Street and Central West End kitchens
- Sewer backup help for basement drains and toilets that overflow
- Storm drain jetting for alley, lot and courtyard drains
Neighborhoods and nearby cities
Calls come from across St. Louis, including Soulard, Tower Grove, the Hill, the Central West End, Dogtown, South City, Lafayette Square and the Loop.
Nearby, hydro jetting in Kansas City has its own page. Help is also available in Clayton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, University City, Maplewood, Florissant and Chesterfield. See the Missouri page for every city we cover.