Westminster property owners maintain the sewer line from the house to the tap on the city main, including the tap itself. When that lateral is cracked, root-filled or sagging along much of its length, replacement is usually the lasting fix. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Westminster.
The City of Westminster owns and runs about 411 miles of sanitary sewer pipe, with wastewater treated at the city's Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility or at partner Metro Water Recovery. The private part, from your property to the tap on the main, is yours, and the city points owners to a plumber when a backup is in that line. The median Westminster home was built in 1987 and about a third predate 1980, according to ACS 2019-2023 estimates, so both older clay or cast iron lines and newer plastic ones turn up. Older pipe tends to fail along its whole length from roots and corrosion, while newer plastic lines more often fail at a single sag or a section crushed during later digging, which is why the camera matters before anyone talks about replacing the full run.
What to do now
- Stop sending water down. Hold off on laundry, dishwashing and showers until the line is checked.
- Rule out the city main. If neighbors are backing up or a manhole is overflowing, call Public Works and Utilities at 303-658-2500.
- Find the cleanout. It is often a capped pipe in the yard or near the foundation; clearing access saves time.
- Get the line cleared and filmed. A camera inspection shows whether the problem is one spot or the whole run.
- Plan the permit. Underground repair or replacement of a sewer line needs a City of Westminster building permit.
Symptoms and likely causes
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Backups return soon after clearing | Roots or breaks at several joints |
| Basement floor drain fills when toilets flush | Blockage or collapse in the main line |
| Standing water shows on camera in one stretch | A belly where the pipe has sagged |
| Sewer odor in the yard | Cracked or separated pipe |
| Slow drains throughout the house | Scale buildup in old cast iron or a partial obstruction |
Cost factors
- Length and depth of the lateral to the city tap
- Trench versus trenchless, depending on whether the old route still holds grade
- Whether the tap at the main also needs work, since it belongs to the owner in Westminster
- Driveways, walkways, trees and sprinkler lines along the route
- Permit and inspection through the city's Building Division, which takes applications online through eTRAKiT and at 4800 W 92nd Avenue
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Westminster
Where does my responsibility for the sewer line end?
Who issues the permit for a sewer line replacement here?
Should I call the utility or a plumber first when sewage backs up?
How long does a sewer line replacement usually take?
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