The City of Austell's Sanitary Sewer Division maintains the city's collection system, and its water page says wastewater flows on to Cobb County's system for treatment. A sewer line replacement in Austell is new pipe for the private lateral from your house to the city's sewer, and about 40% of homes here predate 1980. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Austell's sewer at a glance
Austell keeps more of its own utilities than most small Cobb cities. Its Sanitary Sewer Division maintains more than 51 miles of sanitary sewer, over 700 manholes and two pump stations, and its field office number is 770-944-4336. Wastewater then goes to the county system for treatment at the South Cobb plant. Some homes with an Austell mailing address in unincorporated south Cobb are outside the city system, so check your bill. The city has also seen serious flooding, notably along Sweetwater Creek in 2009, which is worth mentioning to a plumber if your home is low-lying.
What to do now
- Use as little water as you can until the line is checked.
- If neighbors have backups too, or a manhole is overflowing, call the city's sewer field office.
- Find the outdoor cleanout. If it's full, the clog is between it and the street.
- Call a plumber to clear the line and run a camera.
- Decide on repair or replacement from what the footage shows.
- Confirm the permit. Austell requires plumbing permits to install, remove, alter or replace drain piping, applied for through the city's online portal.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Main line clogs every few months | Root intrusion or partial collapse |
| Lowest drain overflows first | Blockage in the lateral |
| Backups after heavy rain | Groundwater entering a cracked pipe, or a surcharged main |
| Wet ground or odor along the line | Broken pipe leaking into soil |
| Rust flakes on camera | Corroding cast iron |
Cost factors
- Length and depth of the lateral
- Whether it can be replaced trenchless
- Driveways, steps or trees on the route
- Interior drain pipe replaced at the same time
- Permit and inspection through the City of Austell
The housing stock is mixed: the median Austell home was built in 1993, but about 40.6% predate 1980, according to ACS 2019-2023 estimates. The older homes are where full replacement comes up most. Many of them sit on lots near the creek or the rail lines, and a plumber will want to check the grade and depth of the line carefully before choosing a trenchless method.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Austell
When sewage backs up, should I call the utility or a plumber first?
Should I add a sewer backflow preventer when the line is replaced?
Who issues the permit for replacing a sewer line here?
What makes one sewer replacement cost more than another?
More plumbing services in Austell
Sewer Line Replacement nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: