What does Columbus say homeowners are responsible for?
Their own sewer lateral and internal plumbing. The City of Columbus says homeowners maintain and repair the water service line, the sewer lateral and the plumbing inside the home, while the city's Division of Water Reclamation runs the public sewer.
The city adds a practical order: have a city crew check for a blockage in the area before you call a plumber. If the public sewer is clear, the problem is on your side, and sewer line jetting is one option to discuss with a pro. A camera inspection can show visible conditions in it. Call to ask about the service and book a visit.
How does Project Dry Basement affect Columbus owners?
It protects eligible homes from rainwater-driven backups. When the city decides a backup was caused by excess rainwater in the sanitary sewers, it installs an approved backflow prevention device on the home's sewer line.
The device becomes part of the home's sewer line, which the owner maintains. That makes a clear lateral and a working device a pair: the device stops flow coming back from the public sewer, and a clean lateral keeps your own flow moving out. Sewer backups often show up first at basement floor drains in older neighborhoods.
Who maintains which part of the line in Columbus?
Columbus puts the lateral and internal plumbing on the homeowner, as laid out here.
| Part of the line | Who maintains it | What it means when a line clogs |
|---|---|---|
| Public sewer and the city crew's check for a blockage | City of Columbus, Division of Water Reclamation | Have a city crew check first, as the city advises |
| Sewer lateral and internal plumbing | Homeowner | A blockage on this side goes to a plumber or drain pro |
| Backflow device installed under Project Dry Basement | Homeowner maintains it | It becomes part of the home's sewer line |
What clogs sewer laterals in Columbus?
Roots and grease top EPA's list of blockage causes, and Columbus has mature street trees near older clay laterals in German Village and Clintonville.
Roots come out with tree root removal, build-up in kitchen and laundry lines responds to drain jetting, and restaurant lines are a commercial grease line jetting job.
Which hydro jetting services are available in Columbus?
Columbus customers can book any of the seven services, from a single house to a whole apartment complex.
- Sewer line jetting for the lateral between your cleanout and the public sewer
- Sewer camera inspection to inspect aging German Village and Clintonville laterals
- Tree root removal when street trees have reached a joint
- Drain jetting for kitchen and laundry lines that keep slowing
- Commercial grease line jetting for Short North and Brewery District restaurants
- Sewer backup help for a basement drain or toilet that is overflowing
- Storm drain jetting for apartment lots and private drains
Neighborhoods and nearby cities
Calls come from across Columbus, including German Village, Victorian Village, Clintonville, the Short North, Franklinton, Olde Towne East, the Hilltop, Polaris and the Brewery District.
Nearby local pages cover hydro jetting in Cincinnati and Toledo. Help is also available in Dublin, Westerville, Grove City, Hilliard, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Worthington and Bexley. See the Ohio page for every city we cover.