Here's something most Murray homeowners don't realize until they're standing in a flooded basement: the sewer lateral running from your house to the city's main line is your pipe, not the city's. Murray City's own utility records confirm that the property owner owns and is responsible for maintaining that line, and the city does not perform maintenance on it. When heavy summer rain hits, that private stretch of pipe is usually the first thing to fail.
Your Lateral, Not the City Main, Is Usually the Problem
Murray City maintains roughly 152 miles of public sewer mainline, ranging from 8 to 48 inches in diameter, running to the Central Valley Wastewater Reclamation Facility. But the lateral connecting your home to that mainline, typically just 4 to 6 inches wide, belongs entirely to you. Salt Lake County actually runs two separate systems, one for sanitary sewage and one for stormwater, so heavy rain isn't supposed to enter your sewer line at all. The trouble starts when an aging or cracked lateral lets rainwater and saturated groundwater seep in anyway, a problem plumbers call inflow and infiltration. That extra volume can overwhelm a lateral that handles daily household use just fine, and the backup shows up at the lowest point in your home, usually a basement floor drain or a lower-level toilet.
Warning Signs Before a Full Backup
Gurgling sounds from your toilet or drains after you run water elsewhere in the house is one of the earliest signs of a lateral under pressure. Slow drains in multiple fixtures at once, rather than just one, point to a problem in your lateral rather than an isolated clog. Water backing up into a basement floor drain or a lower-level tub is a clear sign the line is already at capacity.
How to Prevent Sewer Backup on Your Own Line
Since you own the lateral, protecting your home starts with knowing its condition. A camera inspection shows whether root intrusion, cracks, or bellies in your specific line are letting groundwater and rain infiltrate during storms. A backwater valve installed on your lateral keeps sewage from pushing back into your home even if the line does surcharge during an especially heavy event. Regular hydro jetting clears the buildup that narrows your lateral's usable capacity, giving storm-saturated groundwater less chance to back things up.
When to Call a Professional
If you've noticed gurgling drains, slow-moving fixtures, or any backup at all, don't wait for the next storm to test your lateral again. Since Murray City won't inspect or repair a private lateral, a licensed plumber is the only way to find out what's actually happening underground on your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is my sewer lateral my responsibility or the city's?
A: In Murray, the property owner owns and is responsible for maintaining the sewer lateral from the home to the city's mainline. The city maintains the public mainline itself but does not perform maintenance on private laterals.
Q: Why does my sewer back up during heavy rain if my city has a separate storm system?
A: Salt Lake County runs separate sanitary and storm systems, so rain isn't meant to enter your sewer line at all. Backups usually happen because rain and groundwater seep into a cracked or aging private lateral, a problem called inflow and infiltration, which adds volume the line wasn't built to carry.
Q: What's the first sign of a sewer lateral problem?
A: Gurgling in your toilet or drains after running water elsewhere in the house is typically the earliest warning, followed by multiple slow-draining fixtures at once.
Q: How do I find out if my lateral is at risk before the next storm?
A: A camera inspection is the only way to see the actual condition of your specific lateral, including root intrusion, cracks, or low spots that let water infiltrate during wet weather.
If your drains are gurgling or backing up, call Big Brothers Home Services at (385) 469-4940 for a camera inspection of your sewer lateral in Murray, UT and the surrounding area.