What does SPU say about side sewers?
That the owner owns the whole pipe, to the main. Seattle uses the term side sewer for the lateral, and its code puts maintenance and repair on the owner.
For a blockage, the owner hires a drain professional, and sewer line jetting is one option to discuss. SPU's troubleshooting guide also helps tell a side sewer problem from a main problem, and a camera inspection can document what the line looks like inside. A call gets you information about the service and a booking.
Why are shared side sewers a Seattle thing?
Because many lots were built close together. Older neighborhoods like Wallingford, Greenwood and Capitol Hill often have two or more homes feeding one pipe before the main.
SPU notes repairs can depend on a legal agreement made at installation. A camera can show where lines join, and neighbors usually need to coordinate on access.
Who maintains which part of the line in Seattle?
SPU's pages split the system as shown here.
| Part of the line | Who maintains it | What it means when a line clogs |
|---|---|---|
| Public sewer main in the street or alley | Seattle Public Utilities | SPU crews fix blockages in the main |
| Side sewer from the building to the main | Property owner | The owner maintains and repairs it |
| Shared side sewer | Owners, per their legal agreement | Repairs may depend on the agreement made at installation |
How do Seattle's hills and rain affect side sewers?
Steep lots and long wet seasons. Many Seattle side sewers run downhill in deep trenches, and months of rain keep ground saturated.
Saturated soil lets roots thrive near joints, and tree root removal clears them. Fir and maple roots reach old clay and concrete pipe on streets like Queen Anne and Beacon Hill.
Which Seattle properties book jetting?
Ballard and Capitol Hill restaurants, waterfront kitchens and apartment buildings in the U District.
Commercial grease line jetting clears kitchen lines, and drain jetting handles branch lines in apartments.
Which hydro jetting services can you book in Seattle?
Every service on this site is available in Seattle, for a Wallingford craftsman, a West Seattle home or a Ballard restaurant.
- Sewer line jetting along the side sewer from cleanout to the main
- Sewer camera inspection inside early-1900s clay and concrete side sewers
- Tree root removal for fir and maple roots at joints
- Drain jetting for slow kitchen and bath drains
- Commercial grease line jetting for Ballard, Capitol Hill and waterfront kitchens
- Sewer backup help for flooded basement and garage drains
- Storm drain jetting for lots and area drains in the rainy season
Neighborhoods and nearby cities
Calls come from across Seattle, including Capitol Hill, Ballard, Fremont, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, the University District, Wallingford and Queen Anne.
See the Washington page for the state overview. Help is also available in Bellevue, Kirkland, Renton, Tacoma, Everett, Shoreline and Burien.