Inside Marietta city limits, Marietta Water handles both water and sewer service, while Marietta-addressed homes outside the city may be on Cobb County Water System instead. About a third of Marietta homes were built before 1980, so aging clay and cast iron laterals are common. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Marietta.
Marietta's sewer setup
Marietta Water, part of Marietta Power & Water, provides sewer collection as well as water across the city. Its 24-hour service and maintenance dispatch is (770) 794-5230, which is the number to call if you think the street main is backed up. A Marietta mailing address doesn't guarantee city service, though: homes outside the limits may be on Cobb County Water System, so check your bill before calling.
As the historic Cobb County seat, Marietta has older housing than many suburbs. The median home dates to about 1987, and roughly a third were built before 1980. Streets around Marietta Square include houses where the lateral may be cast iron or clay, both of which crack, shift and let roots in with age. Plumbing permits inside the city come from City of Marietta Building Inspections.
Repair or replace: how the options compare
| Approach | Good fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Root cutting and cleaning | Light roots in pipe that is still sound | Short-term; roots return to the same joints |
| Spot excavation | A single break or offset found on camera | Fixes one spot; other old joints remain |
| Pipe lining | Cracked but round clay or cast iron | Minimal digging; won't work where pipe has collapsed |
| Full replacement | Widespread cracking, sags or collapse | Biggest job, but the whole old line is gone |
Signs it's the main line
- A flush makes water rise in the tub
- Gurgling toilets while the washing machine empties
- Every drain in the house slows at once
- A sewer smell in the yard or crawl space
- Clogs that keep coming back after snaking
Timing and seasons
Root intrusion tends to peak in the warm months when trees are growing fastest, so summer backups in older Marietta neighborhoods are often root-related. Extended wet weather can reveal cracks too, as groundwater seeps into the pipe and slows it down. Planning ahead pays off here: if you are buying, selling or renovating an older home near the Square, a camera inspection can catch a failing lateral before it backs up into a finished space. Ask the plumber to note the pipe material and depth on the report, since that information shapes every future repair choice.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Marietta
Who do I call if the backup might be in the public sewer main?
What is the sewer pipe under a house this age likely made of?
My mailing address names this town, but I live outside city limits. Who handles my sewer?
Should I have the sewer line checked before buying an older home here?
More plumbing services in Marietta
Sewer Line Repair nearby
Sources
Last updated: