The City of Falls Church's Department of Public Works operates and maintains the city's sewer system, and defects in the private lateral belong to the property owner. When that private line cracks, clogs or lets in roots, a plumber handles the repair. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Falls Church.
Falls Church sewer basics
Falls Church is a small independent city about eight miles from Washington, where U.S. 29 and Route 7 meet just inside the Beltway. Its median home was built in 1971, so many laterals are decades old and may be clay or cast iron. The City runs the sewer system; part of the wastewater is treated at Arlington County's plant and the rest flows through Fairfax County to the Alexandria treatment plant. The Falls Church mailing area spreads well beyond the city into Fairfax and Arlington counties, including places like Seven Corners, and those homes are on county systems with county permits.
What to do now
- Stop running water and hold off on laundry and dishes.
- Confirm you're inside city limits; your tax or utility bill will show it.
- If sewage is coming from a manhole or neighbors are affected, contact the City's Department of Public Works.
- Locate the cleanout and clear a path to it.
- If only your house is affected, call a plumber to clear the line and inspect it with a camera.
- Ask about adding a sewer backflow prevention device while the line is being repaired.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Sewage in a basement floor drain | Blocked lateral, or flow backing up from downstream |
| Recurring clogs every few months | Roots through clay joints |
| Slow drains throughout the house | Scaled cast iron or a partial obstruction |
| Sewer odor outdoors | Cracked pipe or an open cleanout |
Cost factors
- Pipe material and the extent of the damage
- Depth, and whether the problem is under a driveway, walk or tree
- Lining versus digging and replacing a section
- Adding a sewer backflow prevention device
- A plumbing permit from the City's Department of Code Administration (703-248-5080)
The City's sewer Backflow Prevention Program reimburses homeowners for a sewer backflow prevention device installed by a plumber holding the required license, under a plumbing permit. If your basement has flooded from the sewer before, ask the City about current terms before the work starts so the installation qualifies. A device like this complements a repair rather than replacing one: it keeps sewage from flowing back into the house, but a cracked or root-filled lateral still needs to be fixed so waste can leave freely.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Falls Church
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?
Who is responsible for the sewer pipe between my house and the public main?
What are sewer laterals under older homes here usually made of?
More plumbing services in Falls Church
Sewer Line Repair nearby
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