Who pays for the sewer lateral in Watsonville, CA
Which part of the pipe is yours
Yours all the way to the main under the road
Why, and what to doYours from the meter to your building
Why, and what to do
If something’s wrong
If a repair needs a permit or an inspection
No rule on file here is specific to a repair; that does not mean none exists.
Buying or selling?
Watsonville requires a lateral video before escrow closes on most older properties. Section 6-3.508(d) provides that "Upon change of ownership and before close of escrow, or upon proposed change of use, any property that includes buildings or structures connected to a sanitary sewer main that was constructed more than fifteen (15) years before the date of sale or change in use, and has not had its sanitary sewer lateral inspected within the past fifteen (15) years, shall have the sanitary sewer lateral inspected", and that "A video inspection shall be completed by a NASSCO certified, licensed plumber from the building to the connecting public sanitary sewer main".
Planning work?
The remodelling rule in full, with its sourcesWho to call first about the sewer lateral
Watsonville: official site(opens in a new tab)The documents this answer is built on
Who is responsible for which part
Watsonville puts the whole lateral on the owner, owned as well as maintained. Section 6-3.508(a) provides that "Sanitary sewer laterals shall be owned, repaired, maintained, and/or replaced by the owner(s) of each property served, at such owner's sole expense", and section 6-3.100 defines the sanitary sewer lateral as "that portion of any sanitary sewer beginning at the plumbing or drainage outlet of any building and extending to the POTW".
- The property owner
- The lateral from the building to the public sewer, the length under the street included - the City can repair that length itself and send the bill: section 6-3.508 reserves the right "to complete the required lateral repairs within the City's right-of-way and charge the property owner for the cost of said repairs" where an owner fails to comply.
What else is worth knowing
Sources
Watsonville Municipal Code chapter 6-3, City UtilitiesWhat the rules say
Most relevant if you are repairing or replacing the pipe
No rule on file here is specific to repairing or replacing the pipe; that does not mean none exists.
Also in force here
Watsonville requires a lateral video before escrow closes on most older properties. Section 6-3.508(d) provides that "Upon change of ownership and before close of escrow, or upon proposed change of use, any property that includes buildings or structures connected to a sanitary sewer main that was constructed more than fifteen (15) years before the date of sale or change in use, and has not had its sanitary sewer lateral inspected within the past fifteen (15) years, shall have the sanitary sewer lateral inspected", and that "A video inspection shall be completed by a NASSCO certified, licensed plumber from the building to the connecting public sanitary sewer main".
What to do: If you are selling, find out when the lateral was last inspected and how old the main is; if the requirement applies, book a NASSCO certified, licensed plumber for the video well before escrow. If you are buying and the seller proposes transferring the repairs to you, get the video report and the City-accepted transfer form before closing.
Watsonville Municipal Code section 6-3.508(d), Testing of sanitary sewer lateralsWhy this matters
The inspection has to certify the lateral "to be in good working order and free of obstructions and/or breaks", and "The City will not assume responsibility for costs of the testing and/or repairs." A buyer can take the repairs on instead: seller and buyer "may mutually agree to transfer responsibility for any needed sanitary sewer lateral repairs", but the signed form "must be accepted by the City prior to close of escrow". The same test applies to a proposed change of use, which includes remodeling, additions and adding an accessory dwelling unit - not only sales.
What this page cannot tell you
- No assistance or grant programme has been reviewed for this jurisdiction yet.
- No sewer service territory has been mapped for this area, so BelowGrid cannot say who serves an individual address.
Who governs and serves this area
- Jurisdiction
- Watsonville (municipality)
- Sewer service
- No map of sewer providers is held here. BelowGrid cannot say which sewer provider serves an individual address.
How this compares to neighbouring cities
2 of the 4 nearest cities draw the line somewhere else. Each authority publishes only its own rule.
Your other pipe: the water service line
The drinking water line coming into your property is a separate pipe, run by a separate authority, and who is responsible for it is decided separately. Your sewer lateral is yours to the main; your water line stops being yours at the meter.
Who owns the water service line in WatsonvilleNearby cities and further reading
Look up a specific address
This page describes what applies to properties in Watsonville in general. To see which authorities serve one address, and what records exist for it, search for it.
Search for an address