Septic Line Repair in Metro Atlanta | Atlanta Water & Sewage

The short answer

What is septic line repair?

Septic line repair fixes the solid pipes of a septic system: the building sewer from the house to the tank, and the line from the tank to the distribution box and drain field. In Georgia those pipes must be at least 4-inch schedule 40 PVC or equivalent, with watertight, root-resistant joints, and every repair must be permitted and inspected.

Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated October 23, 2026

Who does the work

One crew, the whole line

Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Installer Listed by the Georgia Department of Public Health
Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Pumper Listed by the Georgia Department of Public Health
Homes and businesses across metro Atlanta, from our shop in Oxford, GA

(678) 863-5620

Key facts

Septic line facts that decide the repair

Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.

Georgia rules and extension guidance for the pipes of a septic system
Topic	What it says	Source
Pipe the rules require	Schedule 40 PVC or equivalent, at least 4 inches across, for every solid pipe starting at the house (511-3-1-.04(2))	Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016
Joints	Sealed, watertight and root-resistant, on a firm foundation, not subject to settling, at a self-cleaning grade (511-3-1-.04(3))	Same source as above
Under a driveway	Pipe must withstand the expected loads, or be installed so it is protected from crushing (511-3-1-.04(2))	Same source as above
Permit	Repairs, replacement or additions to an existing system must be permitted and inspected (511-3-1-.03(2)(c))	Same source as above
Where the tank usually is	Often 10 to 20 feet outside the home, directly in front of the building sewer	UGA Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1421 — A Beginner's Guide to Septic Systems, 2024
Who marks the line	Calling 811 marks utility lines only, not lines owned by the home or business, so a septic line has to be traced on site	Same source as above
Public sewer nearby	If a failing system has a public sewer available within 200 feet of the property line, it must connect, unless the county grants the residential exemption (511-3-1-.03(1)(a)-(b))	Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016

Plain definitions

The lines of a septic system, in one sentence each

Building sewer (house to tank): Georgia defines it as the horizontal piping beyond the building drain that carries the discharge from the house to the septic tank or other disposal.↗
Tank outlet line (tank to distribution box): The solid pipe that carries settled liquid, called effluent, from the tank's outlet tee toward the field; the EPA notes the T-shaped outlet is what keeps sludge and scum in the tank.↗
Distribution box: A small box after the tank that splits the effluent among the drain lines; Georgia requires it to meet the state on-site manual (511-3-1-.06).↗
Drain lines (the field): Perforated pipes buried in the drain field that slowly release effluent into the soil; repairs to these are drain field work and have their own page.↗

Warning signs

Signs the problem is in a septic line

A septic line fails in a few typical ways: it breaks or separates at a joint, it fills with roots, it is crushed, or it sags so solids settle in the low spot. The signs below point to the pipe rather than the tank or the field.

Seeing any of these? Call (678) 863-5620

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1. Every drain in the house backs up at onceWhen the whole house slows or backs up together, the blockage is usually at or before the tank inlet: the building sewer or the inlet tee. One slow sink is usually a plumbing drain inside the house instead.
2. Sewage smell or a wet patch between the house and the tankA cracked pipe or a separated joint leaks along its run. A damp strip or odor in the short stretch between the foundation and the tank lid points to the building sewer, not the field.
3. A sunken line across the yardSoil settling in a straight line over the pipe route can mean a broken pipe is washing the fill away. Keep vehicles off it until it is checked.
4. Roots at a cleanout or around the lidTree and shrub roots grow into drain lines and even the tank (UGA B1421). They enter at cracks and loose joints, which is why Georgia requires root-resistant joints.
5. The line runs under a driveway or parking areaDriving or parking over the tank or drain field can collapse drain lines and compact the soil (UGA B1421). A pipe that was not rated or protected for that load is a common place for a crush.
6. The tank level is low but the house still backs upIf we open the tank and the liquid sits at its normal level while the house is backing up, the water is not reaching the tank. That puts the problem on the inlet side, in the building sewer or the inlet tee.

How the job runs

How we repair a septic line

We work from the house outward and prove where the fault is before anything is dug.

1
Find the line and the tank
We trace the pipe from where it leaves the foundation toward the tank, which often sits 10 to 20 feet out in front of the building sewer. We call 811 for the public utilities first, because 811 does not mark a home's own lines.
UGA Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1421 — A Beginner's Guide to Septic Systems
2
Look inside before digging
Where there is a cleanout, a camera run shows whether the pipe is broken, separated, root-filled or sagging, and how far from the house the fault is. Our sewer camera inspection page explains what the footage shows.
3
Check the tank ends
We open the tank and look at the inlet and outlet tees, because a clogged or broken tee can look exactly like a pipe failure from inside the house.
US EPA — How Your Septic System Works
4
Get the repair permit
Georgia requires that repairs, replacement or additions to an existing system be permitted and inspected, so the county environmental health office is part of the job.
511-3-1-.03(2)(c)Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
5
Replace the failed section to code
We cut out the broken, crushed or root-packed section and replace it with schedule 40 PVC or equivalent, at least 4 inches, with sealed, watertight, root-resistant joints. The new pipe is bedded on firm ground at a grade that keeps solids moving, and pipe under a driveway is rated or protected for the load.
511-3-1-.04(2)-(3)Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
6
Inspection, then backfill
The repair is left open for the county inspection where the county requires it, then backfilled and the yard put back.
511-3-1-.03(2)(c)Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)

Permits & the Georgia rules

Georgia rules for septic line repair

These are quoted from the state rules, Chapter 511-3-1. Your county environmental health office applies them.

01
Contact the county environmental health office for the repair permit before the line is replaced.↗
02
If a public sewer is within 200 feet of the property line, expect the county to ask whether the system must connect instead of being repaired; a residential system under 2,000 gallons per day may be exempted.↗
03
Where there is no local plumbing code or plumbing inspection for the building sewer, the County Board of Health may check that pipe itself (511-3-1-.04(3)).↗

Georgia rule 511-3-1-.03(2)(c)

“Repairs, replacement, or additions to existing systems must be permitted and inspected.”

Read the rule

Georgia rule 511-3-1-.04(2)

“All solid pipes and fittings ... beginning at the house, shall be NSF International schedule 40 PVC or equivalent”

Read the rule

Georgia rule 511-3-1-.04(3)

“Sewers ... shall be laid with sealed, watertight, root-resistant joints.”

Read the rule

Georgia rule 511-3-1-.03(1)(a)

“If an existing on-site sewage system fails, immediate connection shall be made to a public or community sewerage system if such a system is available.”

Read the rule

Your options

Repair a section, replace the line, or connect to sewer

OPTION 01

Repair the failed section

When it fits: One break, one separated joint or one root-packed stretch, with the rest of the pipe sound on camera.

Least digging
The rest of the line stays in place
Older pipe on either side can fail later

OPTION 02

Replace the whole line

When it fits: The camera shows several defects, the pipe is an old material, or it sags along its length.

New pipe and joints end to end, to today's rule
One permit and one dig
More of the yard is opened

OPTION 03

Connect to public sewer

When it fits: The system is failing and a public or community sewer is available within 200 feet of the property line.

No tank or field to maintain afterward
Georgia may require it, unless the county grants the residential exemption

See our septic-to-sewer conversion guide.

The whole story

Why the pipe is the first thing we prove

A blocked building sewer, a broken outlet line and a failing drain field can all show up the same way inside the house: slow drains and backups. Replacing a field that was never the problem is the most expensive mistake in septic work, so we start at the foundation and prove each piece before moving to the next. If it does turn out to be the field, the same crew handles drain field repair.

Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions is on the Georgia DPH lists of certified septic installers and approved pumpers, so the tank can be opened, pumped and checked on the same visit as the pipe work. One long-time customer put it plainly in a Google review: “When my septic lines failed, they did an excellent job of repair & update.”

From our job files: a new-construction septic install, three green risers set in Georgia red clay while a crew member shovels beside the PVC lines — From our job files.

Where we do this

SEPTIC LINE REPAIR across the east metro

Every county runs its own permits and utilities. Start with your county's rules, or jump to your town.

FAQ

Septic line repair questions

Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.

(678) 863-5620

Is septic line repair the same as sewer line repair?

No. A septic line carries wastewater to your own tank and field, and the whole run is yours. A sewer line, or lateral, carries it to a public sewer main, and part of it can belong to the utility. If you are not sure which you have, our septic or sewer guide helps, and sewer line repair covers the public-sewer side.

Do I need a permit to repair a septic line in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia's on-site sewage rules say repairs, replacement or additions to existing systems must be permitted and inspected (511-3-1-.03(2)(c)). The permit comes from your county environmental health office, which also inspects the work. We handle that conversation as part of the repair, so you are not coordinating it yourself.

Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)

What pipe should a septic line be?

Every solid pipe and fitting from the house onward must be NSF schedule 40 PVC or equivalent, at least 4 inches in diameter, with sealed, watertight, root-resistant joints on a firm, non-settling foundation (511-3-1-.04(2)-(3)). Pipe under a driveway must be able to take the load or be protected from crushing.

Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)

Can tree roots get into a septic line?

Yes. UGA Extension notes that tree and shrub roots can grow into drain lines and even into the tank, and the EPA advises planting trees far enough from the drain field that roots cannot reach the system. Roots usually get in at a crack or a loose joint, which is why the repair uses root-resistant joints.

Source: UGA Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1421 — A Beginner's Guide to Septic Systems

Can I drive or park over my septic line?

Avoid it. UGA Extension warns that driving or parking over the tank or drain field can damage or collapse the tank or drain lines and compact the soil, and the EPA says not to park or drive on a drain field. Where a line must cross a driveway, Georgia requires pipe that can take the load or protection from crushing.

Source: US EPA — How to Care for Your Septic System

Will 811 find my septic line before digging?

No. Calling 811 marks public utility lines, but not lines owned by the home or business, according to UGA Extension. Your septic line has to be traced on site, starting where the pipe leaves the crawlspace or basement wall. The tank is often 10 to 20 feet out, straight in front of that pipe.

Source: UGA Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1421 — A Beginner's Guide to Septic Systems

What should not go down the drain after a line repair?

The EPA's rule of thumb is to flush nothing but human waste and toilet paper. Its never-flush list includes cooking grease or oil, non-flushable wipes, paper towels, diapers, feminine hygiene products, coffee grounds and cat litter. Those are also what tend to snag at a joint or a sag in the line.

Source: US EPA — How to Care for Your Septic System

What if a public sewer is close to my house?

If your system is failing and a public or community sewer is available within 200 feet of the property line, Georgia's rule is that the house must connect. A residential system under 2,000 gallons per day may be exempted if the repair meets the state manual and the lot has enough usable soil, as decided by the County Board of Health.

Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)

Keep going

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 October 23, 2026

Septic line repair in metro Atlanta: the pipes between your house, tank and field

What is septic line repair?

Septic line facts that decide the repair

The lines of a septic system, in one sentence each

Signs the problem is in a septic line

How we repair a septic line

Find the line and the tank

Look inside before digging

Check the tank ends

Get the repair permit

Replace the failed section to code

Inspection, then backfill

Georgia rules for septic line repair

Repair a section, replace the line, or connect to sewer

Repair the failed section

Replace the whole line

Connect to public sewer

Why the pipe is the first thing we prove

SEPTIC LINE REPAIR across the east metro

Septic line repair questions

Is septic line repair the same as sewer line repair?

Do I need a permit to repair a septic line in Georgia?

What pipe should a septic line be?

Can tree roots get into a septic line?

Can I drive or park over my septic line?

Will 811 find my septic line before digging?

What should not go down the drain after a line repair?

What if a public sewer is close to my house?

Where these facts come from

Need septic line repair? Call the crew that digs.

Septic line repair in metro Atlanta: the pipes between your house, tank and fieldSeptic line repair, house to field.

What is septic line repair?

Septic line facts that decide the repair

The lines of a septic system, in one sentence each

Signs the problem is in a septic line

How we repair a septic line

Find the line and the tank

Look inside before digging

Check the tank ends

Get the repair permit

Replace the failed section to code

Inspection, then backfill

Georgia rules for septic line repair

Repair a section, replace the line, or connect to sewer

Why the pipe is the first thing we prove

SEPTIC LINE REPAIR across the east metro

Septic line repair questions

Is septic line repair the same as sewer line repair?

Do I need a permit to repair a septic line in Georgia?

What pipe should a septic line be?

Can tree roots get into a septic line?

Can I drive or park over my septic line?

Will 811 find my septic line before digging?

What should not go down the drain after a line repair?

What if a public sewer is close to my house?

Related services and guides

Where these facts come from

Need septic line repair? Call the crew that digs.

Septic line repair in metro Atlanta: the pipes between your house, tank and field