Norcross no longer runs its own sewer; Gwinnett County took over the city's water and sewer system in 2013, and Gwinnett makes owners responsible for the entire sewer lateral. A sewer line replacement in Norcross is new pipe for that private line from your house to the county's sewer. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Norcross.
Norcross today
Norcross is an 1870 railroad town with a town square downtown and a young, diverse population. When Gwinnett County took over its water and sewer in May 2013, billing and customer service moved to the county. The county's rule is simple: it maintains the meter and the pipe from the main to it, and the owner is responsible for everything on the customer side, including the entire sewer lateral. The median home was built in 1990 and about 18.3% predate 1980, according to ACS 2019-2023 estimates, so the older houses near the square are the likeliest to have clay or cast iron.
What to do now
- Hold off on laundry, showers and the dishwasher.
- Check whether neighbors are affected. Problems in the public sewer go to Gwinnett DWR's 24-hour line, 678.376.7000.
- Open the cleanout cap carefully and look for standing water.
- Have a plumber clear the line and run a camera all the way to the main, since the whole lateral is yours.
- Decide on repair or replacement based on the footage.
- Expect a City of Norcross trade permit; its Community Development Department issues plumbing permits.
Symptom guide
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Backup comes back soon after clearing | Broken, root-filled or sagging pipe |
| Lowest drain fills first | Blockage in the main lateral |
| Bubbling toilet when the tub drains | Restricted flow in the main line |
| Soggy patch or odor in the yard | Cracked pipe leaking into soil |
| Rust scale on camera | Corroding cast iron |
Cost factors
- The full length of the lateral to the county main
- Depth and slope, which decide trenchless versus a trench
- Sidewalks, driveways and trees on small older lots near downtown
- Interior drain pipe replaced at the same time
- Permit, with documents uploaded to the city's ePlan portal
Norcross' Community Development office is on Lawrenceville Street, and the plumber normally handles the filing and inspection. On the small lots around the historic square, the lateral may run close to a neighbor's line or under a shared walk, so a careful locate before digging matters. If the house has a crawl space, ask whether the drain pipe under the floor should be inspected at the same time.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Norcross
Where does my part of the sewer line end and the utility's part begin?
Who issues the permit for replacing a sewer line here?
What are older sewer laterals around here usually made of?
When sewage backs up, should I call the utility or a plumber first?
More plumbing services in Norcross
Sewer Line Replacement nearby
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