Sewer Line Replacement in Ashburn, VA

My Ashburn house is fairly new. Why would its sewer line need replacing?

Ashburn grew from farmland and a rail stop into planned neighborhoods such as Ashburn Farm, Ashburn Village, Broadlands and Brambleton, and only about 2 percent of homes in ZIP 20147 predate 1980. Most drain lines are PVC, which resists corrosion and roots far better than clay. Plastic lines still fail, though. Backfill that was not compacted well can settle and leave a belly where waste collects. Joints can pull apart. Later projects such as decks, pools, fences and patios sometimes crush or puncture a lateral. When a camera shows more than one of these along the run, replacing it can make more sense than repeated spot repairs.

Who handles which part of the sewer in Ashburn?

Ashburn is unincorporated, and Loudoun Water provides public water and sewer to county residents outside the incorporated towns within its service areas. Loudoun Water's headquarters is in Ashburn. The public sewer is the utility's; the plumbing that carries waste out of your house is the owner's. Ask Loudoun Water's Customer Relations team (571-291-7880) where its responsibility ends at your connection. For an after-hours sewer emergency, its line is 571-291-7878. Townhouse and condo owners should also check whether the HOA owns any shared line.

What permits does a sewer line replacement need in Ashburn?

Loudoun County Building and Development handles permits for unincorporated Ashburn. Residential plumbing trade permits are filed as sub-records of a parent building permit, either online through LandMARC or in person at 1 Harrison Street SE in Leesburg, with plan review questions at 703-777-0220. The plumber doing the work normally takes care of the filing and the inspection.

A note for Ashburn owners

Many Ashburn neighborhoods are governed by associations with rules on digging, restoration and contractor access. Before an open trench crosses a lawn, sidewalk or common area, get the camera video, a marked route and written approval where needed. If the pipe still holds its slope, a trenchless method may avoid most of the disturbance. Keep the video and the final inspection record with your house papers, since a future buyer's inspector may ask about the line.