Did You Know?

As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your sewer lateral—the pipe that connects your home to the City sewer main (wye), typically in the street or a nearby easement.Who Owns It?

The private property owner is fully responsible for the ENTIRE LENGTH of the sewer lateral - from the building to the connection of the sewer main (wye)in the street or within a rear easement near their home. The laterals are typically four inches in diameter, while the City’s mainline is typically at least eight inches in diameter.

Out of Sight, But Not Without Risk

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t think about our sewer pipes until something goes wrong. Since they’re underground, they’re easy to forget. But ignoring them can lead to messy, expensive problems. Sewer backups can cause tremendous damage to your home. To minimize this, the City provides continual maintenance for the public sewer mainlines. However, we still need your help! Our goal is to raise awareness and provide tools to help you maintain your system and avoid costly backups.

Protect Your Home: Sewer Lateral Do's and Don'ts

1. Proper cleaning, repair, and replacement are essential to prevent blockages. Tree roots  commonly invade through cracks or loose joints, leading to costly damage.

2. Keep rainwater out of the sewer lines as it overwhelms the capacity of the sewer lines and may cause sewer spills.

a. Do not pour fats, oils, and grease in your drains as these products harden and stick to the inside of the sewer pipes, which build up and may eventually cause a blockage in the sewer pipes.

b. Do not place improper items into the sewer or make improper connections to the sewer.

c. Do not have roof drains tied into the sewer main.

 3. Install a backflow preventer and cleanout in your sewer lateral. Refer to the back to see recommended cleanouts.

Accepted and Not Accepted Types of Cleanouts 

Accepted

These cleanouts are recommended as it allows our crews to properly clean your sewer lateral using equipment that operates in a specific, controlled direction. This ensures safe and effective maintenance with no guesswork.

Not Accepted

It is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure the cleanout is properly installed and meets City standards. Only properties with approved cleanouts are eligible for routine maintenance under the program.

Below are examples of cleanouts that are NOT recommended and do not qualify for the program. These configurations do not allow for proper directional access and can prevent our equipment from operating safely and effectively.

Taking these simple steps can help keep the flow going, and prevent costly overflows and damage. If you want to be part of the Sewer Lateral Maintenance Program, please let us know. Please note that a City inspection is required before a property can qualify.

The City of Fullerton Sewer staff is here to help answer any sewer-related questions or concerns. Call us at (714) 738-6897 or scan the QR code to visit our website to learn more.

A city inspection is required to determine whether a property is eligible for sewer maintenance services. To qualify, the property must have a 4" directional cleanout located at the front of the house, with clear and unobstructed access. Roots must originate from a City-maintained tree and the sewer lateral must be in serviceable condition. Once approved, the sewer lateral will be cleaned approximately once per year, as well as on an as-needed basis if a backup occurs.

Please note that maintenance is limited to the portion of the line running from the front of the house to the city main. Cleaning will not be performed beneath any structures.