DRAINS & SEWER
Sewer Backup in New Haven: Who Pays, You or the WPCA?
The line from your house to the street is yours to maintain. Where the split falls, and how to keep sewage out of the basement.
Updated September 2026 · New Haven, CT
In New Haven, Hamden, East Haven and Woodbridge, the property owner owns and maintains the sewer line from the house out to the edge of the street. The Greater New Haven WPCA owns the piece from the street edge to the main. Root and grease clogs in the lateral land on the owner's side.
Where the line splits
Section 7.04 of the GNHWPCA sewer ordinance gives the owner the stretch from the edge of the road to five feet outside the building wall, and gives the WPCA the stretch from the edge of the road to the public sewer. Section 7.05 makes owners responsible for routine maintenance and cleaning of the building sewer.
In plain terms: roots, grease and cracks in your yard and under the sidewalk are your problem to fix. A blocked main under the street is theirs.
Sewage coming up right now?
- Stop running water anywhere in the house, including toilets and the washer.
- Keep kids and pets away from the water.
- Ask a neighbor if they're backing up too. If yes, call the WPCA.
- Leave the cleanout cap alone. It can be under pressure.
- If it's only your house, call us to clear and camera the sewer line.
Keep it from happening again
Older New Haven laterals are often clay or cast iron, and tree roots find every joint. A camera inspection shows whether you need a cleaning, a spot repair or a new line. For basements that back up in heavy rain, a backwater valve is the move. See what those jobs run in our sewer line repair cost guide.
Quick answers
Which towns does the Greater New Haven WPCA cover?
Its ordinance lists New Haven, East Haven, Hamden and Woodbridge as member towns, plus its customers in North Haven and North Branford.
Does homeowners insurance cover a sewer backup?
Many standard policies leave it out unless you added a sewer or water backup rider. Call your agent and ask before you need it.
What's a backwater valve?
A one-way valve on your sewer line that lets waste flow out and closes if sewage tries to come back in. It's one of the best defenses for a basement that has backed up before.
How do I know if the problem is mine or the street's?
If only your house is backing up, the clog is usually in your lateral. If neighbors on the same street are backing up too, call the WPCA. A camera inspection settles it.
Source: Greater New Haven WPCA Sewer Use Ordinance, Sections 2.25, 7.04 and 7.05
Dealing with this right now?
Call and a licensed New Haven plumber from our team can be there today.
Call 203-654-9405Licensed and insured plumbers · Phones answered 24/7
Phones answered 24/7, holidays included