The City of Falls Church operates its own sewer system, and defects in a private lateral are the owner's to fix. With about half the city's homes built before 1971, many laterals are old enough that replacing the run beats another repair. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Falls Church.
The Falls Church picture
Falls Church is a small independent city about eight miles from Washington, just inside the Beltway where Route 29 and Route 7 meet. Its median home dates to 1971, and roughly half the homes are older than that. Laterals under those houses are frequently clay or cast iron, prone to root intrusion, cracked joints and corrosion. The City's Department of Public Works operates and maintains the public sewer; part of the city's wastewater is treated at Arlington County's plant and the rest flows through Fairfax County to the Alexandria plant. The Falls Church mailing area spreads well beyond the city into Fairfax and Arlington counties, where those counties' sewer and permit rules apply.
What to do now
- Limit water use until the line is open again.
- Confirm you are in the city. Your bill and tax records show whether the City or a county handles your address.
- Get a camera inspection to see whether damage is isolated or runs the length of the lateral.
- Ask about a backflow device. The City's Backflow Prevention Program reimburses homeowners for a sewer backflow prevention device installed by a qualified plumber under a plumbing permit.
- Line up the permit. City plumbing permits come from the Department of Code Administration at 300 Park Avenue (703-248-5080).
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Basement floor drain overflowing | Blockage or collapse in the lateral |
| Roots on the cable after every cleaning | Open joints in old clay pipe |
| Rust scale and slow flow | Cast iron narrowing from corrosion |
| Odor near the front walk | Crack or break leaking into soil |
Cost factors
- Lateral length and depth to the City sewer
- Bursting or lining versus open excavation
- Walks, porches, steps and old trees on small lots
- Adding a sewer backflow device during the job
- Permit and inspection through the correct jurisdiction
Pairing the replacement with a backflow device can make sense, since both happen while the line is already open. Ask the plumber to confirm the permit and paperwork the City needs for the reimbursement before work starts, and keep copies of the invoice and inspection record. Small city lots can limit where pits and equipment go, so walk the route together first.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Falls Church
Is it worth adding a backwater valve while the line is being replaced?
My mailing address uses the town's name, but I live outside its limits. Whose rules apply?
What tends to wear out in older sewer laterals around here?
How long does a sewer line replacement usually take?
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