In the City of Alexandria, the City owns and maintains the sanitary sewers and the City-owned portions of laterals, and AlexRenew treats the wastewater. Damage on the private side of your lateral, or in the drains inside the house, is a plumbing repair. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Alexandria.
How sewers work in Alexandria
Alexandria is an old Potomac River port about six miles from downtown Washington, and its sewer system reflects that age. The City runs the collection sewers, AlexRenew treats the flow, and part of Old Town is served by a combined sewer, where storm runoff and household wastewater share the same pipes. Because some lateral sections belong to the City and some to the owner, calling the City's sewer staff makes sense when you aren't sure where a blockage sits.
Housing ranges from 18th-century rowhouses in Old Town to mid-century homes in Del Ray and Rosemont and high-rises in the West End and Potomac Yard. The median home was built in 1974. Older laterals can be clay or cast iron, and some have been patched more than once over the decades.
The City also offers homeowners a reimbursement for backflow preventers installed on their sewer laterals, which help keep sewage from flowing back into a basement. Construction and plumbing permits come from the Department of Code Administration through the APEX system. Many Alexandria mailing addresses (ZIPs 22303, 22306-22312 and 22315) are in unincorporated Fairfax County, where Fairfax County sewers and permits apply instead.
Repair options compared
| Option | Good fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Cabling or jetting | Roots, grease or debris in pipe that is still sound | Roots regrow unless the entry point is sealed |
| Point repair | One broken joint or a short crushed section | Needs an excavation at that spot |
| Cured-in-place liner | Cracked clay or cast iron that still holds its slope | Can't correct a sag or a fully collapsed pipe |
| New pipe | Collapsed, bellied or badly deteriorated lines | The most digging and restoration |
| Sewer backflow preventer | Basements that have flooded from the lateral | Needs occasional checks to keep working |
Signs to watch
- Sewage odor in a basement or crawlspace
- Water rising in the floor drain when a toilet flushes
- Gurgling from the kitchen sink while the dishwasher drains
- Repeated clogs in the lowest fixtures
Timing
Older laterals often give out after a heavy rain or a busy holiday weekend, when a line that was already narrowed gets more flow than it can carry. If sewage is coming up, stop using water and get help promptly. If drains are only sluggish, a camera inspection on a weekday is usually less disruptive than waiting for a full backup. Rowhouses with shared walls and small front areas may need extra planning for where a pit can go, so ask about access early.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Alexandria
Is there help paying for a sewer backflow device?
My mailing address names the town, but I live outside its limits. Who handles my sewer?
Will a backwater valve keep sewage out of my basement?
Who is responsible for the sewer pipe between my house and the public main?
More plumbing services in Alexandria
Sewer Line Repair nearby
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