Sewer Lateral Maintenance and Backups

If you want to keep your home safe from sewer backups, it's helpful to learn about sewer laterals — the pipes that carry wastewater from your house to the main sewer line. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining the private side of the lateral, so regular checks and good habits can help prevent clogs and costly cleanups.

Get your free annual sewer lateral inspection

The City offers a free video inspection of your private sewer lateral once a year.

Our team will check your private sewer line using a scope for any issues. Inspections are available by request and may be rescheduled if staff need to respond to urgent situations like flooding or sewer blockages. This is a lateral inspection service, not a lateral cleaning service. Please see the fee schedule for separate cleaning fees.

Inspection hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm (excluding holidays).

Request your annual inspection and keep your sewer line running smoothly!

Sewer lateral ownership

Property owners own and are responsible for all water and sewer services and plumbing from the property line to their homes.

Any leaks or pipe failures on private property are the owner's responsibility. This includes any failure of the inside water shut-off valve before the water meter, as well as any piping or connections to the water meter.

Sewer lateral warranty program

To help protect against unexpected repair costs, the City of Niagara Falls has partnered with Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC). They offer optional repair plans for water and sewer service lines on your private property. This program raises awareness about homeowner responsibilities while providing a solution for those who wish to participate.

Learn more on the Service Line Warranties of Canada page.