Sewer Line Repair in St. Joseph, MO

Sewer line repair in St. Joseph usually means working on pipe that has been in the ground a long time. The city was incorporated in 1843 and grew from about 8,900 people in 1860 to a reported 102,979 in 1900, and Census-based figures put roughly 27.5% of the city's housing units as built in 1939 or earlier, with a median construction year of 1962. Many of those houses still drain through their original clay tile or fiber pipe, and that pipe is the homeowner's to repair.

Who owns the sewer lateral in St. Joseph

The City of St. Joseph's homeowner guide to the private lateral is direct about it: the line that runs from your house to the city's main, including the tap connection at the main, is the property owner's responsibility. The guide says owners must repair damage to their lateral and are financially responsible for damage to their property caused by a problem in it. It also points out that most homeowner insurance policies may not cover these costs, and suggests asking your agent about sewer line coverage or a sewer and drain endorsement. The public main in the street is the city's. If more than one house on your block is backing up at the same time, the main may be the problem rather than your lateral, and the city lists a Sewer Backup line at 816-236-1485.

What the pipe is made of

Homes built before the middle of the last century were commonly connected with vitrified clay tile: short sections joined with mortar-type joints. The clay itself lasts, but the joints loosen with soil movement, and roots find them. From the 1940s into the 1970s many builders used Orangeburg, a bituminized fiber pipe made of wood pulp and coal tar pitch. Its useful life is about 50 years under ideal conditions, and as it ages it deforms under soil pressure and flattens out of round. Any Orangeburg still in the ground in St. Joseph is near or past that point. Newer homes generally have PVC, which This Old House puts at 100 years or more of service life, and cast iron shows up under basement floors and in some older lines.

Roots from mature trees

Old neighborhoods mean big trees. Oaks, maples and elms planted generations ago now have root systems reaching across front yards and under sidewalks. The city's guide warns that roots can damage sewers and cause basement backups, and tells homeowners to keep trees and shrubs, and their roots, away from the lateral. Roots do not usually break a sound pipe; they enter at a leaking joint or crack, then grow until they catch paper and solids. Cutting them clears the line for a while. Lasting fixes seal the joint, by lining the pipe or replacing the section.

Combined sewers and basement backups

Parts of St. Joseph are served by a combined sewer system, in which stormwater and sewage share the same pipes. The city submitted a long-term control plan to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in 2008 to cut overflows, and a 2017 state review of the Blacksnake Creek separation project counted 14 locations where diluted sewage overflows into the Missouri River during rain. For a homeowner, the practical point is that heavy rain can load the system. The city's guide says downspouts, sump pumps and area drains should not be connected to the lateral, because they add to overflows and backups, and it notes that a backwater valve, which blocks sewage from flowing back into the house, requires a city permit and should be installed by a licensed plumber.

Get a Free Estimate

Permits and city rules

St. Joseph's building department FAQ says plumbing work must be done by city-licensed master plumbers and that right-of-way permits are obtained separately from building permits. The city builds to the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code. Missouri does not issue a statewide plumbing license, so cities and counties set their own licensing rules. Work that opens a street, curb or sidewalk needs a right-of-way permit, and excavation needs a Missouri One-Call (811) locate at least two working days ahead. We sort out which permits a job needs before it is scheduled and list them on your quote.

Signs your lateral needs attention

• Water stains or standing water around the basement floor drain
• Several drains slowing down at once, or a toilet that gurgles when the washer drains
• Sewage odor in the basement or yard
• A soggy or sunken strip of lawn between the house and the street
• Backups that return a few months after the line was snaked

The city's guide recommends having a licensed plumber inspect and clean the private lateral every two to five years. If you are buying an older house in St. Joseph, a camera inspection before closing tells you what kind of pipe you are inheriting and what condition it is in.

St. Joseph is our main service area, from the older neighborhoods near downtown and the river to newer parts of the city. We also work in nearby Buchanan County and Northwest Missouri communities such as Savannah, Country Club, Agency, Easton and Gower. Who owns which part of the sewer, which office issues permits and whether a property is on public sewer or a private septic system differ from one town to the next, so each area page covers what applies there, and we confirm the rules for your address before quoting.