What does Madison Engineering say about laterals?
That the owner owns the lateral from home to main. The main sits in the middle of the street, so the owner's pipe includes the part under the right-of-way, and repairs there must use a contractor the city has prequalified.
For a blockage, the owner hires a sewer cleaner, and sewer line jetting is one option to discuss with a pro. Madison advises televising the lateral before approving repairs, which a camera inspection does. A call gets you information about the service and a booking.
Why do Madison crews clean the main on every backup call?
Because it rules the public side in or out fast. The city says its crews check the main first and clean it on every backup report, whether or not the lateral turns out to be involved.
If the main runs normally afterward, the problem sits in your lateral. Owners handle cleanup inside the house, as crews do not enter, so keep photographs and receipts and ask the city about its claim process.
Who maintains which part of the line in Madison?
Madison Engineering's pages split responsibility as shown here.
| Piece of the system | Responsible party | Practical meaning for a backup |
|---|---|---|
| Public sewer main in the street | City of Madison | Crews check and clean the main on every backup call |
| Lateral from the home to the main, including under the street | Property owner | Blockages and repairs are the owner's; repairs need a prequalified contractor |
| Cleanup inside the home | Property owner | City crews do not enter to help |
How do the isthmus and the lakes shape Madison's sewers?
Narrow land between lakes means old, shallow lines and high groundwater. Willy Street, Tenney-Lapham and Marquette sit on the isthmus with early-1900s housing.
High water tables keep roots active and let groundwater into cracked pipe. A camera shows visible cracks, and tree root removal clears roots, with Madison's many street trees adding to the load.
Which Madison buildings book jetting?
State Street restaurants, student rentals near campus and apartment buildings on the isthmus.
Commercial grease line jetting clears kitchen lines, and landlords of student rentals use drain jetting between leases.
Which hydro jetting services can you book in Madison?
Every service on this site is available in Madison, for an isthmus bungalow, a Middleton ranch or a State Street restaurant.
- Sewer line jetting from the cleanout through the lateral to the street main
- Sewer camera inspection to televise a lateral before a repair, as the city suggests
- Tree root removal for roots from lakeside shade trees
- Drain jetting for shared kitchen lines in student rentals
- Commercial grease line jetting for State Street and Willy Street kitchens
- Sewer backup help for flooded basement drains and toilets
- Storm drain jetting for parking lots and private drains near the lakes
Neighborhoods and nearby cities
Calls come from across Madison, including Willy Street, Monroe Street, Tenney-Lapham, the Near West Side, Marquette, Hill Farms, the Southwest and Middleton's edge.
Nearby, hydro jetting in Milwaukee has its own page. Help is also available in Middleton, Fitchburg, Monona, Sun Prairie, Verona, McFarland and DeForest. See the Wisconsin page for every city we cover.