The City of Louisville runs its own sewer and wastewater plant, so replacing a sewer line here means new pipe for the private line from your house to the city's system. The right approach depends a lot on whether you're in an older home near downtown or a newer or rebuilt one. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Louisville.
What happens when you call
You'll be put in touch with an independent local plumber who works in Louisville. Expect questions about which drains back up, how often the line has been cleared and the age of the house. A camera inspection usually comes before any replacement price, because the pipe material, depth and location of the damage decide whether it's a spot repair, lining, pipe bursting or a trench.
Louisville's Building Safety Division issues building permits and performs plumbing inspections. It's on the first floor of City Hall at 749 Main Street, (303) 335-4584, with an online portal for applications. The plumber typically files the permit and schedules the inspection before the trench is filled.
What affects the cost
- How long and deep the line runs to the city sewer
- Whether the old line still holds its slope
- Older downtown lots with tight access and mature trees
- Patios, drives and landscaping along the route
- Interior pipe that may need replacing too
Louisville's sewer system and housing
Public Works operates the city-owned Louisville Wastewater Treatment Plant on the east side of town, built in 2017 with UV disinfection, which discharges to Coal Creek; some of its effluent is reused to irrigate parks and a golf course. For a sewer backup that may be in the city's system, call the Operations Division at (303) 335-4750 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or the on-call line at (303) 489-2301 after 3:30. The pages we reviewed don't spell out where the city's part of a sewer connection ends, so ask Public Works for your address.
Louisville is a former coal-mining town with a historic downtown, and older homes there are the likeliest to have clay or cast iron drain lines worn along their length. Hundreds of homes were rebuilt after the December 2021 Marshall Fire. In a rebuilt home, the interior plumbing is new, but it's worth asking whether the sewer line out to the street was replaced or reused. If it was reused, a camera inspection can confirm whether it survived the fire, demolition and heavy equipment intact.
Before the visit
- Use as little water as possible
- Find the cleanout and clear access
- Gather rebuild paperwork if the home was reconstructed
- Note which fixture backs up first
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Louisville
Should I call the utility or a plumber first when sewage backs up?
Why would a fairly new home need its sewer line replaced?
Who issues the permit for a sewer line replacement here?
How long does a sewer line replacement usually take?
More plumbing services in Louisville
Sewer Line Replacement nearby
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