What does BES say about the lateral?
That it is the owner's, usually from the building to the curb. BES describes the lateral as the owner's to maintain and says the city line begins beyond it.
For a backup, BES advises calling a plumber first, which is where sewer line jetting is one option to discuss with a pro. A camera inspection helps document the visible state of the line, which helps place the problem before you decide who pays. Phone for information about the service and to book a visit.
Why does it matter whether the fault is private or public?
Because that decides who pays. BES says that if the fault is between the home and the street the owner pays, and if it is in the city line the repair is the city's.
A plumber's camera run is how most owners learn which side a blockage is on. Keep the recording, and if the backup appears in the street itself, call BES directly instead of hiring a plumber.
Who maintains which part of the line in Portland?
BES's backup page splits the system by whose line it is.
| Part of the line | Who maintains it | What it means when a line clogs |
|---|---|---|
| City sewer main | Bureau of Environmental Services | If the fault is in the city line, the repair is the city's |
| Lateral from the building to the curb | Property owner | The owner pays for repairs between home and street |
| Work in the right-of-way or public easement | BES permit required | UR and UC permits cover lateral repairs and connections |
How do Portland's wet winters and fir trees affect laterals?
Moist soil and big roots. Portland's long wet season and tall conifers and maples keep roots active near joints.
Old clay and concrete laterals in Sellwood, Alberta and Irvington see root intrusion, and tree root removal clears it. Newer areas east of 82nd are mostly plastic.
Which Portland properties book jetting?
Food-cart pods and brick-and-mortar restaurants across the Pearl, Division and Alberta, plus apartment buildings and craft breweries.
Commercial grease line jetting clears kitchen and brewery lines, and drain jetting handles branch lines in apartments and duplexes.
Which hydro jetting services can you book in Portland?
Every service on this site is available in Portland, for a Sellwood craftsman, an Alberta duplex or a Pearl District restaurant.
- Sewer line jetting along the lateral from cleanout to the curb
- Sewer camera inspection to show which side of the curb a fault is on
- Tree root removal for fir and maple roots at old joints
- Drain jetting for slow kitchen and bath drains
- Commercial grease line jetting for Pearl, Division and Alberta kitchens
- Sewer backup help for flooded basement drains
- Storm drain jetting for lots and area drains in the rainy season
Neighborhoods and nearby cities
Calls come from across Portland, including Alberta, Sellwood, Hawthorne, the Pearl District, St. Johns, Multnomah Village, Irvington and Division.
See the Oregon page for the state overview. Help is also available in Beaverton, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Tigard and Vancouver, Washington.