Storm Drain Issues vs Sewer Issues: Knowing Which You Have

Homeowners often confuse storm drain problems with sewer drain problems. The systems are separate, the failure modes are different, and the responsible parties are not the same.

Storm drains vs sanitary sewers

Storm drains carry rainwater from yards, streets, and roofs to natural waterways. Sanitary sewers carry household waste to treatment plants. The two systems are separate.

Symptoms that look similar

Water pooling in the yard after rain could be either. Sewer problems usually have other symptoms (slow drains inside, smell, fixture backups). Storm drain problems usually only show up during or after rain.

Responsibility boundaries

Sanitary sewer lateral from house to city main is the homeowner. Storm drain on the homeowner property is the homeowner. Public storm drains in the street are the municipality.

Common storm drain problems

Clogged yard drain inlets. Crushed pipe under driveways or hardscape. Disconnected downspout extensions. French drain failures. Soil settling above buried storm pipes.

Common sanitary sewer problems

Root intrusion. Cracked or separated pipe joints. Grease buildup. Pipe age and material failure. The EPA drain and sewer system overview covers each in detail.

Diagnosis distinguishes them

Camera inspection identifies which line has the problem and what the problem is. Without the camera, the only way to tell is to start digging.

Related Local Services

For related needs, we recommend commercial carpet cleaning and restoration services.

Your Storm and Sewer Drain Specialists

At Drain Connection, we diagnose storm drain and sanitary sewer issues with camera inspection. Contact us for a diagnostic visit. Our drain services cover the full service area.