In Lakewood, sewer line replacement means new pipe for the private line between your house and the public sewer, which could belong to the city's utility or one of several sanitation districts depending on your address. With most Lakewood homes built before 1980, aging clay and cast iron lines are a common reason for the work. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lakewood.
Who runs the sewer, and how old the pipes are
Lakewood does not have one sewer provider. The city's provider list includes the Lakewood Water and Sewer Utility along with Northwest Lakewood, East Lakewood, Daniels, East Jefferson County and Wheat Ridge sanitation districts, West Alameda Heights Sanitation Service and several water and sanitation districts. Each district can set its own rules for connections and repairs, so the first step is finding out which one serves your house. Lakewood's My Neighborhood tool will tell you.
Age is the other half of the picture. The median Lakewood home was built in 1977, and about 56% went up before 1980, according to ACS 2019-2023 estimates. Houses from those decades were often connected with clay or cast iron pipe. Clay joints let roots in, and cast iron rusts and scales from the inside, so after forty or fifty years the damage is usually spread along the run instead of sitting in one spot.
| Approach | When it fits | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Section repair | One break or root intrusion on pipe that is otherwise in fair shape | The rest of an old line stays in the ground |
| Cured-in-place lining | Cracked pipe that still keeps its shape and fall | Will not correct a sag or a crushed section |
| Pipe bursting | The existing route works and pits can be dug at each end | Needs room for equipment at both pits |
| Open trench | Bellied, collapsed or rerouted line | Most excavation and yard repair |
Signs the line is near the end
- Root cutting needed every year or so
- Several drains slowing down at the same time
- Water coming up in a basement floor drain when upstairs fixtures run
- Bits of clay, rust or soil visible on a camera inspection
Timing and paperwork
Most plumbing work in Lakewood needs a permit from the City of Lakewood Building Department, which takes applications through its eTRAKiT portal and at the permit counter on South Allison Parkway. Your sanitation district may have its own requirements for work at the connection to its main, so ask the plumber to check both. If a camera already shows the line is failing, scheduling the replacement before a full backup gives you more choice of method and timing. Ground that is frozen hard in midwinter can slow excavation, so a planned job is often easier from spring through fall.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Lakewood
How do I find out which district handles sewer at my address?
What were older sewer service lines around here usually made of?
Who issues the permit for a sewer line replacement here?
What affects the price of replacing a sewer line?
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