The Poop on the Sewer Lateral Program

If you've bought or sold a home in the East Bay in the last two years, you've been faced with the prospect of replacing your private sewer lateral (PSL) or passing the responsibility along to a prospective buyer. The PSL is the connecting pipe from your plumbing to the sewer main under the street. So, what is this program and why do I have to spend $5000 (or more) to comply? Read on...

Most East Bay homes were built before 1950, and many have never had their original PSLs replaced. Over time, these pipelines (generally made of clay) can crack, become disjointed or become compromised by tree roots, causing leaks and blockages. Rainwater and groundwater can enter the sanitary sewer system through these sewer lateral defects, potentially overloading the treatment system.

By inspecting, testing, and repairing old sewer pipes, it decreases the probability of rainwater entering sanitary sewer lines. Too much rainwater can overwhelm the sanitary sewer system and the treatment plant, allowing sewage to overflow into the Bay.

Starting in 2011, the EPA and California Regional Water Quality Control Board required East Bay MUD, six East Bay cities, and one sewer district to fix old, cracked sanitary sewer pipes to comply with this program. A Compliance Certificate must be issued when one of the three triggers applies: 1. Buying or Selling a Property; 2. Building or Remodeling in Excess of $100,000; or 3. Changing Water Meter Size.

While the cost of sewer lateral repair isn't trivial, our local officials are being very proactive in implementing this program. Back on the east coast, our old wastewater provider was happy to sell you insurance to protect against PSL failure while also passing along the costs of excess treatment associated with groundwater and rainwater infiltration. In the East Bay, this very systematic approach is helping to protect the Bay in a timely and efficient matter.

For more information about the program and how the ordinance will impact you on the purchase of sale of a home, please contact me.