Sewer Line Repair in Winston-Salem, NC

Who owns which part of the sewer line

A home's sewer lateral runs from the house to the public sewer main, which is usually under the street or in an easement. On Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities sewer, the homeowner is responsible for the service line, while the utility handles blockages in the portion inside the public right-of-way and services the courtesy cleanout at the edge of the right-of-way where one exists (WSFC Utilities, Sewer Backup Policy & Responsibilities). In practice:

• Sewage backing up? Call City Link at 311 or 336-727-8000 first. Utility staff check the cleanout and clear any accessible blockage on the right-of-way side at no cost to the homeowner.
• No water standing in the cleanout, or no cleanout? The blockage is on the private side, and the homeowner hires a plumber. The utility's policy asks that the plumber clear the line all the way to the main and camera-inspect it, and send video of any damage in the right-of-way to a WSFC Utilities field operations supervisor.
• First-time backup caused by the main? The utility's Good Neighbor Policy may reimburse reasonable cleanup costs. Call City Link before cleanup starts so you do not hurt a possible claim (WSFC Utilities Good Neighbor Policy).

Homes outside the utility's sewer area, including many in Pfafftown, Tobaccoville, parts of Bethania and much of Davie County, are on septic systems, and the line runs to a tank instead of a main. Septic pumping and drain-field work are separate specialties, but the pipe between the house and the tank is ordinary plumbing.

Signs the lateral itself is the problem

• The main line clogs again weeks or months after a thorough cleaning.
• Several fixtures gurgle or drain slowly at once, especially the lowest ones.
• Sewer odor outside near the cleanout or in the crawlspace.
• A patch of lawn that stays wet or grows greener over the line, or a depression forming above it.
• Roots came out on the cable during the last cleaning.

Why older Winston-Salem laterals fail

Houses built before the 1960s commonly have clay tile or cast-iron laterals, and some mid-century homes have Orangeburg pipe, a tar-impregnated fiber pipe that deforms over time. Clay joints let roots in; cast iron rusts and cracks; Orangeburg flattens. Add the Piedmont's dense clay soil, which shrinks and swells with the seasons, and decades of mature tree growth along streets in Ardmore, the West End and Buena Vista, and it is easy to see why the lateral is often the weak link. Grease and wipes speed things up: the city attributes about a third of sewer backups to them (WSFC Utilities, Sewer Backup Policy & Responsibilities).

The camera inspection

A sewer camera is pushed through a cleanout and records the inside of the line, with a locator that pinpoints the camera head (and its depth) from the surface. The video shows whether the problem is roots, a crack, a collapsed section, a belly where waste settles, or an offset joint. Ask for a copy. It is the basis for any repair decision, and the utility's backup policy relies on it when there may be damage in the right-of-way.

Repair options

Option	When it fits	Tradeoffs
Root cutting and maintenance cleaning	Roots at a few joints in otherwise sound pipe	Restores flow, but roots return; often done on a schedule
Spot repair (excavate one section)	One break, offset or collapsed spot	Digging limited to one area; the rest of the old pipe stays
Trenchless lining (cured-in-place)	Cracked or root-damaged pipe that still holds its shape	Little digging; not suitable for collapsed lines or severe bellies
Pipe bursting	Full replacement along the same path	Two access pits instead of a trench; needs suitable soil and pipe
Open-trench replacement	Collapsed lines, bellies, or when grade must be corrected	Most digging and restoration, but fixes slope problems

Sewer work usually requires a permit and inspection, and digging requires utility locates first: call 811 (NC811) before any excavation. Work in the public right-of-way involves the utility.

Adding a cleanout

Many older homes have no accessible outdoor cleanout, which makes every clog harder to clear and can complicate the utility's backup response. Adding a two-way cleanout near the foundation is a common, worthwhile upgrade during any sewer repair.

Related guides

• Who Owns the Sewer Line in Winston-Salem?

Sources: WSFC Utilities, Sewer Backup Policy & Responsibilities; WSFC Utilities Good Neighbor Policy; City of Winston-Salem, Can the Grease.