Sewer cameraSee the pipe before deciding
Repair and replacementOf failed side sewer sections
Upfront pricingPriced by the job, not the hour
What Auburn expects of a side sewer owner
Every house on City sewer has a side sewer: a pipe 4 to 6 inches across that runs from the building to the public main. Auburn splits responsibility at the property line. The owner maintains and repairs the part on private property. The City takes care of the part in the public right-of-way and the main itself, and the wastewater then travels through King County trunk lines to the South Treatment Plant in Renton.
Three City rules shape any repair:
- A sewer permit is required for any side sewer repair, replacement or new connection, through the City’s Permit Center.
- New pipe must be PVC SDR-35 or ductile iron with gasketed joints, laid at a slope of at least 2 percent.
- The trench stays open until a City inspector has seen the work.
We repair and replace failed side sewer sections, and we’ll go over what your job requires before it starts.
What a camera inspection tells you
A sewer camera turns guessing into knowing. We run it through the line and watch the screen with you: joints, cracks, roots, standing water, grease, and a footage counter that puts a distance on each problem. The City’s own handout points out that a camera or locator is also how a side sewer gets found when the City has no drawing of it on file.
Why the valley floor is hard on sewer pipe
Three facts about Auburn work against old sewer lines.
Age. The City’s sewer plan says the Valley basin holds the oldest part of the system, and that older areas still have concrete and clay pipe. Side sewers from those years are made of the same materials, and their joints are where roots get in.
Flat ground. The valley drops only from about 109 feet at the south end to 53 feet at the north, so little that seven City pump stations are needed there. With that little natural fall, a side sewer depends on being laid at the right slope, and a small sag is enough to hold water and collect solids.
Groundwater. The shallowest aquifer under the valley often sits 10 to 15 feet down, and the City notes that groundwater seeps into sewers through cracks and misaligned joints whenever the water table is above the pipe. A line that takes on water in winter also lets roots and soil in.
In Lakeland and much of West Hill and Lea Hill, the housing is newer and the ground has slope, so trouble there is more often one bad spot than an aging line.
Clean it, repair it or replace it
Sound pipe, blocked
Roots, grease or years of buildup in a line with no structural damage. A drain machine or hydro-jetting clears it, and a second pass with the camera confirms the pipe is clean.
Damaged pipe
A crack, an offset joint, a crushed length or a belly that holds water. No amount of cleaning cures those, so the failed length gets repaired or replaced.
You’ll see what we saw and have the price for each option before anything is dug. Artisan prices by the job, not by the hour.
Buying or selling a house in Auburn
Home inspectors don’t look inside the sewer. King County, which treats Auburn’s sewage, tells buyers to always get a side sewer inspection, and the region’s sewer agencies have discussed requiring one at the point of sale. As of the City’s 2024 sewer plan that is a proposal, not a rule. For a pre-1950 house near downtown or a 1950s house in South Auburn, putting a camera through the line while you can still negotiate can keep you from inheriting a failed sewer.
Only a sink or a tub acting up? That’s probably not the sewer. Start with kitchen and bathroom clogs, or drain cleaning if several fixtures are slow.
Sewer Line Services FAQs
Where does my responsibility for the sewer line end in Auburn?
At the property line. You own and maintain the side sewer on your property. The City of Auburn is responsible for the part of the side sewer in the public right-of-way and for the main.
Does Auburn require a permit for side sewer work?
Yes. The City requires a sewer permit for any repair, replacement or installation of a side sewer, issued through its Permit Center, and the trench can’t be backfilled until the work has been inspected. Work in the street or public right-of-way needs a separate construction permit.
Is a sewer inspection required when a house sells in Auburn?
Not as of the City’s 2024 sewer plan. Regional sewer agencies have discussed requiring side sewer inspection and repair at the point of sale, but it remains a proposal. King County still tells buyers to always get a side sewer inspection, and we agree.
My Auburn address is served by a different sewer district. Can you still work on my line?
Yes. Some West Hill addresses are served by Lakehaven Water and Sewer District, and some Lea Hill addresses by Soos Creek Water and Sewer District or the City of Kent. The side sewer on your property is still yours. Permit rules come from whichever agency serves you, and we’ll confirm them before work starts.
Sewage is backing up right now. What should I do?
Stop running water in the house. Report it to the City of Auburn’s Maintenance and Operations staff so crews can check the public main, then call us at 360-829-7440. We’re on call 24/7, including weekends. After hours we’ll talk you through shutting off your water and get you on the schedule, often the next day.