Black Hawk runs its own water department, but we couldn't confirm who provides sewer service, so check your bill before planning a replacement. If you're on public sewer, replacement covers the private pipe from your building to that system. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Black Hawk.
Black Hawk is a former gold-mining settlement known as the City of Mills, now a small casino town of restored historic buildings along North Clear Creek, sharing a National Historic District with Central City. It's Colorado's least populous city. The City of Black Hawk Water Department supplies drinking water to the whole city, but our fact sheet doesn't name a sewer provider or say where public sewer ends and private pipe begins. Your bill is the place to check, and the City can tell you who to call about the main.
What to do now
- Stop running water until the line is checked.
- Find your sewer provider on your bill, and call it if neighbors or nearby buildings are backing up too.
- Locate the cleanout, which in older buildings may be in a basement or crawl space.
- Get a camera inspection to see whether the damage is local or along the line.
- Ask about the permit. The City contracts SAFEbuilt for Building Division services; questions go to [email protected].
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Recurring clogs | Roots, a break or a low spot catching waste |
| Lowest drain fills first | Blockage in the building sewer |
| Camera shows shifted joints | Ground movement on steep terrain |
| Slow drains in cold weather | Restriction worsened by a shallow or exposed section |
| Odor or wet ground over the line | Cracked or separated pipe |
Cost factors
- Length and depth of the line to the public sewer
- Rock and steep grades in the gulch, which slow excavation
- Trench versus trenchless, depending on whether the slope holds
- Historic buildings and tight access along narrow streets
- Interior drain pipe in older structures
- Permit and inspection
Old mountain buildings are the likeliest to have clay or cast iron drain pipe worn along its length, and canyon ground can shift joints over the years. Winter cold and snow at elevation make digging slower, so where a line hasn't failed outright, a warmer-month schedule is usually easier. Ask for the camera footage either way so you can see each defect before choosing a method. For commercial buildings, plan the work around business hours, since water use may need to stop while the line is open.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Black Hawk
How do I find out which district handles sewer at my address?
Who issues the permit for a sewer line replacement here?
Can sewer line replacement be done in a Colorado winter?
What should I do right away if sewage comes up through a floor drain?
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