WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US
"We want to thank you for assisting us! I found your website on the internet, contacted you by e-mail and received a call within 24 hours from Greg Abbott. Now that is great customer service! You listened to my problem and were able to refer us to Jerry Fannin of Bio Remedies in El Paso, Texas. We contacted Bio Remedies and again, were immediately assisted. The problem was remedied immediately. The technicians, Joe Ortega and Aaron were very professional, pleasant and worked with diligence.We cannot thank you enough for the relief we felt after Bio Remedies took care of the sewer problem we were having. We have also contacted Jerry Fannin and thanked him but wanted you to know that the results were excellent!"
John and Denise Aranda
El Paso, TX
Sewer Lateral Compliance - Step by Step
This page will take you through a typical process, step by step, for achieving compliance with your Sanitary District’s regulations regarding sewer laterals:
Step 1: Ask what needs to be done?
Owner, trustee, realtor, or other responsible agent (“Applicant”) determines whether or not a Certificate of Compliance has been issued already. If a property is being sold, the Certificate must be obtained prior to the close of escrow.
Step 2: Have a sewer video made:
Applicant hires plumbing contractor to prepare a video of their lateral. Alternatively, the Applicant may elect to replace the entire line, from the building to the District's mainline, and install a cleanout by the house (if so, skip to Step 5). (In cases in which a sewer lateral is suspected to have significant sags, a video is recommended. A new trenchless installed polyethylene line will follow the sags, and this may cause problems even with a new sewer.) or sewer replacement himself/herself, as long as none of the required work is in the public right-of-way.
Step 3: Submit video to District:
Applicant submits video of lateral to District.
Step 4: District issues Certificate of Compliance or Deficiency Report:
Staff makes a determination and issues to Applicant the Certificate of Compliance or a Deficiency Report, which specifies reasons that the sewer lateral is not in compliance. (Allow 2 days.) If a Certificate of Compliance is issued, you're done; if not, continue with Step 5. work in the public right-of-way can only be issued to a Licensed Contractor.
Step 5: Applicant hires contractor:
Applicant receives Deficiency Report, and hires a licensed plumbing contractor to carry out the sewer lateral repairs or replacement, as indicated in the Deficiency Report. Alternatively, Applicant may choose to carry out repairs or sewer replacement himself/herself, as long as none of the required work is in the public right-of-way.
Step 6: Contractor obtains Building Permit:
Plumbing contractor (or whoever is carrying out the work) comes to the District and obtains a Sewer Permit for repair or replacement of the sewer lateral. The cost of the Sewer Permit is typically about $25.00. If any work will be carried out in the public right-of-way (for example, cutting through or boring underneath the sidewalk or under the street), an Encroachment Permit from the appropriate agency is often required. An Encroachment Permits, if required, will be an additional cost. NOTE: An Encroachment Permit for work in the public right-of-way can only be issued to a Licensed Contractor.
Step 7: Repair or replace the sewer lateral:
Contractor (or whoever is doing the work) carries out required repairs or replacement, but does not yet cover any of the work.
Step 8: Schedule Inspection of the repaired or replaced sewer line:
Contractor (or Applicant) calls the District to schedule an inspection on the repaired or replaced – but still uncovered sewer lateral. Inspections require a minimum notice of 24 hours.
Step 9: District staff inspects the repaired or replaced sewer line:
As scheduled, the District comes to the work site to inspect the sewer lateral. As part of this inspection, he or she will check the air or water test on the line.
Step 10: Cover the inspected sewer line, as necessary:
Contractor (or whoever is doing the work) now fills in the sewer line trench with bedding and backfill material and completes any surface restoration.
Step 11: Schedule Final Inspection of the sewer lateral:
As in Step 8, above, Applicant calls District to schedule a Final Inspection on the sewer.
Step 12: District Inspector carries out Final Inspection:
The District Inspector must visit the site again to check that the line has been properly covered and all surface restoration is completed. If the work passes inspection, the Inspector will sign off on the Applicant’s original Sewer Permit (which must be made available to the Inspector, at the site), as well as the District’s copy of the Permit.
Step 13: District staff issues a Certificate of Compliance to the Property Owner:
Once the District Inspector has given the sewer work Final Inspection approval, District staff issues, usually to the property owner, the Sanitary Sewer Lateral Certificate of Compliance. Although the District will keep a copy in its files, the property owner should retain this document for his or her permanent records, along with the signed Sewer Permit.
