Sewer Stoppages

When a stoppage occurs, the Town will assess it to determine if the blockage is on the Town's side of the sewer line or the homeowner's side of the sewer line. The Town maintains all major sewer mains and manholes throughout Cary and Morrisville. Homeowners and businesses own the plumbing lines that connect to the sewer main. The plumbing line is often referred to as a private sewer lateral.

The Town will clear blockages that occur in the main sewer line or in the sewer lateral, from the main line to the clean out pipe at the edge of the property. The sewer clean out is a vertical, capped 4" pipe that provides direct access to the sewer system.

Homeowners are responsible for blockages that occur in the sewer lateral, located between the clean out pipe and the dwelling. If there is no clean out pipe at the edge of the property, the homeowner is responsible for blockages that occur anywhere in the sewer lateral.

Don’t Rush to Flush!

Help keep trash out of the sewer system and prevent costly sewer backups and overflows. Get details.

Backwater Valve

The North Carolina Building Code requires a backwater valve to be installed if the plumbing fixtures are below the top of the first, upstream manhole on the street. A properly operating backwater valve allows flow to go only in one direction, thus preventing wastewater from entering your building during regular sewer system maintenance or inadvertent sewer system backups.

To find out if you have or need a backwater valve, check your plumbing plans or consult with your builder or professional plumber. If sewage backs up into your home, the cost to repair damages and clean up may be high, and is the responsibility of the owner when a backwater valve has not been installed by the property owner. For more information, call the Inspections & Permits Department at (919) 469-4340.

Working with Beavers

Beavers are attracted to dams and reservoirs and can be quite dangerous to structural integrity and proper performance of the embankment and spillway. They can plug storm drain outlets and culverts, creating a flooding hazard. They also destroy trees, which provide habitat for other wildlife, and impound waters.

To maintain the integrity of our sewer system, the Town has the difficult task of balancing environmental stewardship with the protection of public health and property. To this end, there are times when dam structures and beavers must be removed from public property. In the rare instances where beavers do pose an imminent threat and, therefore, must be removed, the Town contracts with an experienced private contractor who follows all related state and federal wildlife rules. Due to practical and ecological considerations, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission does not permit relocation of beavers within the state.