The City of Colton operates its own wastewater system, from more than 100 miles of collection pipe to a treatment plant. The private sewer line from your house to the City's main is the owner's to repair when it clogs or breaks. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Colton.
Colton's sewer and its older homes
The City of Colton's Wastewater Department operates more than 100 miles of sewer collection pipelines and owns a secondary treatment plant; treated water goes to a facility jointly owned with the City of San Bernardino. Colton's plant also takes wastewater from Grand Terrace. City crews respond to sewer blockages in the public system, and the after-hours emergency line is 909-370-5000.
The "Hub City" has a lot of older housing. Point2Homes reports a median year built of 1979, with about half of homes built before 1980. Laterals from that era are often clay or cast iron and are prone to root intrusion, cracked bells and corrosion. The 1980s were the single biggest building decade, and those homes typically have plastic lines now around 40 years old.
What to do now
- Stop sending water down the drains. Hold off on laundry, dishes and flushing.
- Figure out the scope. One fixture suggests a local clog; several point to the lateral.
- Check the street side. If neighbors are affected or a manhole is overflowing, call the City at 909-370-5000 after hours.
- Keep the area safe. Keep kids and pets away from sewage and ventilate the room.
- Leave chemical openers on the shelf. They will not clear a main line and make the work riskier.
- Call a plumber and describe what happened.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Backup in the lowest drain in the house | Blockage in the lateral |
| Clogs that keep returning | Roots in clay or cast iron joints |
| Slow drains everywhere | Scale or corrosion narrowing old cast iron |
| Odor or wet ground over the line | Cracked pipe or open joint |
Cost factors
Price follows what the camera finds: a single broken joint close to the house is a short repair; a long run of deteriorated cast iron or clay can mean lining or new pipe. Depth, distance to the main and what has to be restored afterward all matter. The City of Colton requires a building permit to replace water or sewer lines, so pipe replacement includes a permit and inspection through Development Services, Building & Safety, at (909) 370-5079.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Colton
Should I call the sewer agency or a plumber first?
Do I need a permit to repair a sewer line?
What is the sewer lateral under an older house usually made of?
Is cooking grease really a problem for the sewer pipe?
More plumbing services in Colton
Sewer Line Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: