Detroit says one in three private sewer line connections in the city is clogged, offset or completely fallen off. The suburbs aren’t immune: a lot of homes in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties were built in the same era, with the same pipe, and the line from your house to the city sewer is your responsibility.
What Detroit found, and why it matters in the suburbs
- In 2026 the City of Detroit and DWSD announced a $184 million Alley Sewer Repair Program to fix about 9,000 private residential sewer connections by the end of 2030.
- DWSD said “one in three private sewer line connections are clogged, offset, or completely fallen off,” and cited tree roots, deteriorating pipe, shifting soil and lack of maintenance.
- Census data puts the median home construction year at 1956 in Wayne County and 1975 in Macomb and Oakland counties.
- Suburbs like Warren tell homeowners the same thing Detroit does: the owner maintains the lateral from the building to the city main.
What’s under your yard: pipe by era
- Clay tile: common in older homes. The joints every few feet are where roots get in.
- Cast iron: rusts from the inside, gets rough, catches debris and eventually cracks.
- Orangeburg (tar-soaked fiber pipe): used in some homes built from the early 1950s to early 1970s. It flattens under the weight of the soil over time.
- PVC: newer homes and replacement lines. The problems here are usually installation, like low spots.
The four failures our crews find most
- Roots growing into clay pipe joints until they fill the pipe.
- Rust and scale inside cast iron that traps debris and leads to cracks.
- “Bellies”: sunken sections where waste pools and clogs again and again.
- Offset or broken joints that let soil in and sewage out.
Warning signs your sewer line needs a look
- A floor drain that gurgles when the washer drains.
- A slow toilet on a dry day.
- Slow drains in more than one fixture at once.
- Clogs that clear with a snake but come back weeks later (roots regrowing).
- Sewer smell in the basement.
- A wet or sunken patch of lawn over the line.
Buying a house built before 1980? Get it scoped first
A standard home inspection usually doesn’t include the sewer line. A sewer camera inspection runs a waterproof camera from the cleanout to the street, records the whole line and locates the depth and position of any problem, so you know before you close. On its own, a camera inspection runs approximately $350, including the line locate, a saved video and a written report.
How a sewer line gets fixed
- Camera first. You watch live and keep the video. The locator marks exactly where to dig, so the dig is only as big as it needs to be.
- Spot repair. A single sunken or broken section is dug up and replaced.
- Full replacement. Lines with several failures are replaced from the house to the city connection.
- We call MISS DIG, pull permits and do our own excavation and plumbing. See sewer line repair and replacement.
If sewage is already coming up through your floor drain, start with our guide to sewer backup in the basement. A backwater valve is what keeps it from happening during the next storm.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for the sewer line from my house to the street in Michigan?
In Detroit, Warren and most Michigan communities, the property owner is responsible for the private sewer lateral from the house to the city sewer main.
How do I know if my house has Orangeburg pipe?
Orangeburg was used in some homes built from the early 1950s to early 1970s. A sewer camera inspection is the reliable way to tell; it shows the pipe material and any flattening.
Should I get a sewer inspection before buying a house?
Yes, especially for homes built in the 1970s or earlier. Standard home inspections usually don’t cover the sewer line, and a camera inspection runs approximately $350.
What causes sewer line failure in older Michigan homes?
Tree roots in clay pipe joints, rust inside cast iron, sunken sections (bellies) and offset or broken joints, made worse by shifting soil and age.
Sources: City of Detroit and DWSD Alley Sewer Repair Program announcement (2026), City of Warren engineering division, U.S. Census Bureau median home age data via Stacker, and the City of Ann Arbor on Orangeburg pipe. This guide expands on our press release, Detroit Says 1 in 3 Private Sewer Lines Is Failing. Suburban Homes From the Same Era Have the Same Pipes, distributed by EIN Presswire on November 8, 2026.
Mansour’s Innovations is a family-owned waterproofing, excavation and plumbing contractor in Shelby Township, Michigan, serving Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties since 2014. Owner Imad “Matt” Mansour has 20+ years in the trade and the crew has completed 1,600+ projects. Our waterproofing work carries a 25-year transferable limited warranty. We’re open 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week. Call or text (586) 345-7292 or book a free estimate online.
