The City of Lafayette collects and treats its own wastewater, and replacing a sewer line here means new pipe for the private line from your house to the city's sewer. Older homes near Old Town and newer ones on the edges tend to fail in different ways. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lafayette.
Lafayette grew out of a coal-mining and farming past, with an Old Town core along Public Road. Its sewer is a city service: the Lafayette Water Reclamation Facility, run by Public Works, is designed for up to 4.4 million gallons a day and releases treated water to Coal Creek. The pages we reviewed don't say exactly where the city's sewer responsibility ends, so ask Public Works (303-661-1277) about your address before a replacement is priced.
What to do now
- Stop running water. Pause laundry, dishwashing and showers.
- Find out if it's just you. If neighbors are backing up, call Public Works; after hours and on weekends, Lafayette routes sewer backups to Boulder County Dispatch at 303-441-4444.
- Uncover the cleanout. A plumber can clear and film the line from there.
- Get a camera inspection. It shows whether you have one defect or a line that has failed throughout.
- Line up the permit. The Planning and Building Department's Building Division handles permits; its inspection line is 303-604-3822, and City Hall is at 1290 S. Public Road.
Symptoms and causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Clogs keep coming back | Roots or broken pipe catching waste |
| Basement drain backs up first | Main-line blockage |
| Slow drains in every bathroom | Restriction in the main sewer line |
| Lush or soggy strip of lawn | Leak from a crack or open joint |
| Camera shows a low spot holding water | Sag in the line |
Cost factors
- Length and depth to the city sewer
- Trench or trenchless, depending on whether the slope is intact
- Older Old Town lots with mature trees and tight access versus open newer lots
- Concrete, patios and landscaping to remove and restore
- Interior drain pipe that should be replaced at the same time
- City permit and inspection
Homes in the older core are more likely to have clay or cast iron that has deteriorated along its whole length, while newer subdivisions usually have plastic pipe that fails in one spot. The camera tells you which you have before you decide. If you're unsure whether a backup is yours or the city's, ask Public Works to check the main before you pay for a full replacement; a blockage in the public sewer is the city's to clear.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Lafayette
Should I call the utility or a plumber first when sewage backs up?
Who issues the permit for a sewer line replacement here?
What were older sewer service lines around here usually made of?
What should I do right away if sewage comes up through a floor drain?
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