Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) provides sewer service throughout Clayton County, including Forest Park, so a sewer line replacement here means new pipe for the private lateral from your house to CCWA's sewer. Forest Park has the oldest housing in this part of the metro, about 78% built before 1980, and many of those laterals have failed along much of their length. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Forest Park.
Why Forest Park laterals wear out
Forest Park is an older inner-ring suburb that grew up as a railroad stop just south of Atlanta and I-285. The median home was built in 1965, and about 77.9% predate 1980, according to ACS 2019-2023 estimates. Laterals from the 1950s and 1960s were usually clay or cast iron. Clay joints separate and invite roots; cast iron rusts from the inside until the bottom of the pipe thins and cracks. After sixty years, a camera rarely finds a single break. It usually finds trouble from the foundation to the street.
CCWA runs water, sewer and stormwater for the whole county and its six cities, with about 82,000 accounts, and can treat up to 38.4 million gallons of wastewater a day. Its customer service number, 770-960-5200, is also the one it lists for after-hours sewer backups. CCWA's published split, main to meter, covers the water line; for the sewer, ask CCWA where its part ends before paying for work near the street.
| Camera finding | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| One cracked joint, rest sound | Section repair |
| Roots at many clay joints | Full replacement, often by bursting |
| Cast iron thinned by corrosion | Replacement; lining only if still round |
| Sagged or caved-in section | Excavate and re-lay |
Signs
- Root cutting needed every year or two
- Several drains slow at once
- Sewer smell in a crawl space or yard
- Rust flakes or clay shards after a cleaning
Timing and permits
Forest Park says plumbing installation must be permitted by the city. Applications go in electronically through the OpenGov portal, and inspections are requested by emailing the city's inspections address; the Planning and Community Development office can be reached at (404) 366-4720. On a line this age, also ask whether interior cast iron under the house should be replaced in the same job, and try to schedule the work before a full failure rather than during one. Many lots here have big street trees near the line, and those roots often decide whether bursting or a trench is practical. Ask the plumber to show you on the camera where the roots are entering.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Forest Park
What are older sewer laterals around here usually made of?
When sewage backs up, should I call the utility or a plumber first?
How much harm does kitchen grease do to a sewer line?
Should the old drain pipe under the house be replaced at the same time?
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