Morrow's sewer comes from Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA), which serves the whole county and has its headquarters in Morrow, so a sewer line replacement here means new pipe for the private lateral between your house and CCWA's sewer. About 62% of Morrow homes predate 1980, and those older laterals are often worn out along their length. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Morrow.
Morrow in brief
Morrow is a small, diverse I-75 city anchored by Southlake Mall and Clayton State University. Its housing is mostly older: the median home dates to 1971 and about 61.6% predate 1980, according to ACS 2019-2023 estimates. Laterals of that era are often clay or cast iron, and by now many have root intrusion at the joints or corrosion along the bottom. CCWA, headquartered on Battle Creek Road, provides sewer countywide; its 770-960-5200 line takes after-hours sewer backups.
What to do now
- Stop running water so the line has less to carry.
- Ask neighbors whether they're affected. If so, or if a manhole is overflowing, call CCWA.
- Check the cleanout; standing water means the blockage is downstream of it.
- Have a plumber clear the line and run a camera.
- If the damage is near the street, ask CCWA where its part of the sewer connection ends; its published split is for the water line.
- Plan for a City of Morrow plumbing permit.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Main line clogs every few months | Roots in clay joints |
| Lowest drain overflows first | Blockage in the lateral |
| Rust scale on camera | Corroding cast iron |
| Wet patch or odor outside | Broken pipe leaking into soil |
| Water stands in one stretch | Sag from settled ground |
Cost factors
- Length and depth of the lateral
- Whether the pipe can be burst or lined
- Driveways and mature trees on the route
- Interior drain pipe in similar condition
- Permit and inspection through the city
Morrow's Planning & Economic Development Department issues plumbing permits, along with building, electrical and mechanical. Applications go through a Community Core online account or paper forms at City Hall, and the department's phone is 770-961-4002. The plumber typically files and calls for inspection before the trench is filled. Morrow's older neighborhoods off GA-54 often have mature trees along the line's path, and roots are a common reason clay laterals fail. If the camera shows the old pipe is still round and sloped, a trenchless method can replace it without cutting through those roots; if it has collapsed, plan for a trench and some yard restoration.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Morrow
When sewage backs up, should I call the utility or a plumber first?
Who issues the permit for replacing a sewer line here?
What are older sewer laterals around here usually made of?
What makes one sewer replacement cost more than another?
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