Who Is Responsible for the Sewer Lateral in Cherry Hill Township?
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Your Sewer Lateral Is Yours to Maintain
Most Cherry Hill Township homeowners never think about the pipe under their front yard. It sits a few feet down and carries every flush and every drain out to the public sewer in the street.
That pipe is called the sewer lateral. When it cracks, clogs, or fills with roots, the first question is always the same. Who pays to fix it? The short answer is that the homeowner does. Our sewer line repair in Cherry Hill Township work starts with showing you exactly where your part of the line begins and ends.
This guide from The Sewer Kings covers what the township says and where your part of the pipe ends. It also covers who to call first when sewage backs up. Knowing this ahead of time saves you from paying for the wrong visit.
We will also cover the cleanout, the small capped pipe in your yard that makes every repair faster. Many homeowners have one and have never seen it.
What Cherry Hill Township Says About Sewer Laterals
Cherry Hill Township spells this out on its Sewer Department page. The resident is responsible for their sanitary sewer line from the main line connection to their home. That covers the full length of the lateral, even the part that runs under the sidewalk and curb.
The Main Line Belongs to the Township
The large public sewer main that runs down your street is township property. If that main blocks or breaks, the Sewer Department handles it.
The Lateral Belongs to You
Everything from the connection at the main back to your house is yours. Cracks, roots, sags, and clogs in that pipe are the homeowner’s problem to fix.
This surprises a lot of new homeowners. Because the lateral runs toward the street, many people assume the township owns anything past the front yard. In Cherry Hill Township, the owner is responsible all the way to the main connection.
Cleanout Caps and Vents Are Yours Too
The township also says the resident is responsible for broken, missing, or buried cleanout caps or vents. A missing cap lets dirt and water into the line, so it is worth replacing right away.
When to Call the Township Before a Plumber
The township asks residents with a sewage blockage at the curb to call the Sewer Department before contacting a plumber. The numbers listed on the township sewer page are (856) 424-4422 during business hours and (856) 665-1200 for emergencies after hours.
That step makes sense. If the blockage is in the public main, several homes on your street may be backing up at once. The township can check its line and clear it without any cost to you.
If the township finds its main is flowing, the problem is on your side. That is the point where a private sewer company comes in to find and fix the trouble in your lateral.
A quick tip helps here. Ask your neighbors if their drains are slow too. One house with a backup usually means a private lateral problem, while a whole block points to the main.
Keep the township numbers somewhere easy to find, like a note inside a kitchen cabinet. Backups rarely happen at a good time, and nobody wants to search for a phone number while water rises in the basement.
How We Find Where a Lateral Problem Is
Guessing about a buried pipe gets expensive fast. The Sewer Kings runs a camera through the line before anyone digs. That way we see the crack, the root mass, or the sag with our own eyes.
The camera head also sends a signal we can track from above ground. That lets us mark the exact spot and depth on your lawn, so a repair opens the smallest hole possible.
Access usually starts at the cleanout. If your home does not have one, or the cap is buried under mulch, we find a way into the line. A cleanout can often be added during a repair so future service is simpler.
You get to watch the video with us. Seeing the problem on screen makes the repair choice clear, whether that is a cleaning, a spot repair, or a full replacement.
Every job gets a flat rate you approve before work starts. Once you approve the digital quote, we schedule the work, so there is no back and forth and no surprise charge once the pipe is exposed.
Simple Ways to Protect the Pipe You Own
Since the lateral is your responsibility, a little care pays off. The township asks residents not to pour cooking grease or coffee grounds down the sink.
It also asks that nothing but bathroom tissue goes into the toilet. That includes wipes sold as flushable, which do not break down the way toilet paper does.
Trees are the other big factor. Roots find tiny gaps in older pipe joints and grow inside, so homes with large trees near the front yard often see repeat clogs.
Watch for early warning signs as well. Gurgling toilets, slow drains in the lowest part of the house, and soggy spots over the pipe route all mean the lateral needs a look. Catching a problem early usually means a smaller repair and less digging in your yard.
If you plan to replace your lateral, the digging side of the job comes with its own rules. Our guide on what Cherry Hill Township requires before a sewer line excavation walks through the permits that apply.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Sewer Lateral Responsibility in Cherry Hill Township
No, the township does not pay for private lateral repairs. Cherry Hill Township states that the resident is responsible for the sewer line from the main connection to the home. The township maintains the public main in the street.
Call the Cherry Hill Township Sewer Department first if the blockage seems to be at the curb. If the township finds its main is clear, the problem is in your lateral. At that point The Sewer Kings can find and fix it.
A camera inspection shows the path of the pipe. The camera head sends a signal we track from the surface, so we can mark the route and depth on your yard. That keeps any digging small and exact.
Need Help With Your Sewer Lateral in Cherry Hill Township?
The Sewer Kings is a family-owned crew run by brothers Mark and Anthony Papaneri. We are licensed, bonded, and insured, and we answer the phone 24 hours a day.
If your lateral is backing up, call us for a free estimate and a clear look at what is going on underground.