Sewer Line Repair · Auburn, GA
Sewer line repair in Auburn, Georgia, where Barrow County Wastewater owns the main and the homeowner maintains the lateral.
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or call (678) 863-5620The short answer
Who is responsible for sewer line repair in Auburn, GA?
Auburn's sewer mains belong to Barrow County Wastewater, not the city. County standards treat a lateral serving one customer as the customer's to maintain, with the cleanout set at the right-of-way line. Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions cameras the lateral, finds the failure and repairs or replaces it.↗↗
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
At a glance
- County
- Barrow County / Gwinnett County
The Auburn story
Nineties subdivisions, county pipe
Auburn is a young housing town. Its median home dates to 1994, and most of its 3,233 homes are single-family houses on subdivision streets. Those laterals are not old by Georgia standards, but three decades of roots, settling and heavy wipes will find any weak joint.↗
The ground adds to it. Around town the soil survey maps Appling and Madison sandy loams on 6 to 10 percent slopes, with steeper eroded Gwinnett clay loam near the county line. Laterals run downhill to the street on many lots, and a sagging section holds water where solids settle.↗
When the backup comes, it helps to know that City Hall does not run the sewer. Auburn's utility office handles water and trash; the county owns the mains your lateral drains into.↗
On the record
- At a sample just southwest of Auburn, the soil survey maps Gwinnett clay loam on 10–25% eroded slopes.↗
Who owns what
Auburn's ownership line, per the county spec
Barrow County Wastewatermain
Barrow County↗
Barrow County Wastewatersewer lateral
Customer maintains any service lateral serving only one customer↗
Where the line sits: cleanout at the right-of-way line
The county puts cleanouts at the right-of-way line and allows them in street rights-of-way only for service laterals, so the cap by your sidewalk is usually where a repair starts.↗
Warning signs
When the Auburn lateral is the problem
Seeing two or more of these? Call before it gets worse.
- 1. Backups at the lowest drain while neighbors are fine
- 2. The cleanout by the sidewalk is full of water
- 3. Gurgling toilets when the dishwasher drains
- 4. A wet or sunken line across the front yard
- 5. Odor outside near the street
Local facts
County rules an Auburn repair runs into
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Service size | 6-inch minimum from the main to the right-of-way cleanout | Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021) |
| Stormwater | Never allowed into county water or sewer lines, so downspouts must not tie into the lateral | Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021) |
| After-hours sewer emergencies | 770-307-6610 on weekends and weekdays after 4:30 | Barrow County — Wastewater Division |
| County collection system | 54 miles of gravity sewer, 21 miles of force main, 13 pump stations | Barrow County — Wastewater Division |
| County office | Water Resources, 59 Lee Street, Winder; 770-307-3014 | Barrow County — Water Resources |
What it costs
Lateral repair costs for Auburn homes
Section repair, Atlanta market
$50–$200 per linear foot
Typical market range — Angi — How Much Does Sewer Line Replacement Cost in Atlanta, GA? (updated April 2026), 2026
Full lateral replacement, Atlanta market
$55–$250 per linear foot
Typical market range — Angi — How Much Does Sewer Line Replacement Cost in Atlanta, GA? (updated April 2026), 2026
Camera inspection
$125–$500
Typical market range — HomeGuide — Sewer Line Repair & Replacement Cost (updated December 2025), 2025
What moves the price
These are third-party typical market ranges, not our prices. Every job is quoted after we see it — estimates are free.
Free estimate: (678) 863-5620- 01Slope of the lot and depth at the street
- 02Driveway or walkway over the line
- 03Whether a right-of-way cleanout already exists
- 04Root mass versus a broken or bellied pipe
More about Auburn
Who to call, in order
If the whole street is backing up, it is a main problem: call Barrow County Wastewater, or its emergency line after hours. If it is only your house, the blockage is almost always in the lateral, and that is our job.↗
Keep paying the Auburn bill during the repair. The sewer lines on it, a $17.00 minimum base and $6.15 per 1,000 gallons plus a 7% county admin fee, are the county's charges for the service.↗
If the whole street is backing up, it is a main problem: call Barrow County Wastewater, or its emergency line after hours.
More about Auburn
How we fix an Auburn lateral
First the camera goes in from the cleanout or a roof vent, and we locate the defect from above with a sonde so the dig is one hole, not a trench across the whole yard. Roots at a joint may clear with a cutter and hold for a while; a cracked or bellied section gets cut out and replaced in PVC.
If the whole run is failing, we replace it to the county's 6-inch standard between the main and the cleanout and reconnect the house line on the owner's side. Then we run water, camera it again and backfill.↗
First the camera goes in from the cleanout or a roof vent, and we locate the defect from above with a sonde so the dig is one hole, not a trench across the whole yard.
FAQ
Auburn sewer line repair questions
Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.
(678) 863-5620Does the City of Auburn repair sewer lines?
No. Auburn provides water, garbage and road services. Sewer belongs to Barrow County Wastewater, and the lateral from the house belongs to the owner.
Source: Utilities | City of Auburn, GA
Will Barrow County fix my lateral?
Not a lateral that serves only your home. The county's standards say such service laterals are not private sewers but are the customer's responsibility to maintain.
Source: Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021)
Who do I call for a sewer emergency in Auburn at night?
Barrow County Wastewater's emergency number, 770-307-6610, covers weekends and weekdays after 4:30 p.m. If the county's main is clear, call us for your side.
Can I tie my gutters into the sewer line while it's open?
No. Barrow County prohibits connecting stormwater to its water or sewer systems. We will leave downspouts on their own drains.
Source: Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021)
Where is the sewer cleanout on an Auburn lot?
County standards place it at the right-of-way line, typically near the sidewalk or front property line. It is where we start the camera.
Source: Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021)
Is Auburn's sewer system big enough?
The county and Winder upsized it. The last phase of their joint Cedar Creek line, called the Auburn Sewer Line Project, swapped a near-capacity 12-inch pipe for a 24-inch one. That work was on the main, not on private laterals.
Source: Winder signs off on easements for sewer-line upgrades — Barrow News-Journal (Feb. 7, 2018)
What does sewer line repair cost in Auburn?
Atlanta-area market data puts section repairs around $50 to $200 per foot and full replacements $55 to $250 per foot; a camera inspection runs $125 to $500 nationally.
Source: Angi — How Much Does Sewer Line Replacement Cost in Atlanta, GA? (updated April 2026)
Nearby areas
Sewer line repair close to Auburn
Sources
Where these facts come from
Rules, costs and local facts on this page link to the agency, code or publisher that states them. Cost figures are third-party market ranges, not our prices — estimates are free.
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
- 1Barrow County — Wastewater Division
- 2Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021)
- 3Census Reporter: Auburn, GA (ACS 2024 5-year)
- 4USDA NRCS Soil Data Access — GA606 map units at Auburn sample points
- 5Utilities | City of Auburn, GA
- 6Barrow County — Water Resources
- 7Angi — How Much Does Sewer Line Replacement Cost in Atlanta, GA? (updated April 2026)
- 8HomeGuide — Sewer Line Repair & Replacement Cost (updated December 2025)
- 9City of Auburn Utility Rates (water effective Oct. 1, 2025; sewer approved Sept. 25, 2025)
- 10Winder signs off on easements for sewer-line upgrades — Barrow News-Journal (Feb. 7, 2018)
Ready when you are
Auburn drain backing up? We'll trace it to the cleanout.
Call with your address. We camera the lateral, show you the problem and fix it to county spec.
(678) 863-5620- Georgia DPH-certified installer & pumper
- Residential & commercial
- Oxford, GA
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or call (678) 863-5620