The Public Works Department, Sewer Maintenance Division, maintains the City's sewer main lines (excluding Westbourgh and unincorporated areas) and a portion of a lateral from a house or business that has a City approved cleanout. That portion, which is generally within the City right of way, to the point of connection with the main sewer line.

 

Houses or businesses without a City approved cleanout and between the clean out and the building, are the property owner’s responsibility to maintain.  This includes cleaning, repairs, and reconstruction of the branch line (sewer lateral) from the house or business including its connection to the main sewer.  Many conditions apply due to many factors, so it is always best to check with us before you hire a contractor or plan on the City doing the work.

Please click here to view the City of South San Francisco's Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP). For forms used by the Public Works Department in response to an sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) or backup, please click on any of the following forms showing the procedures taken:

• SSO Form OP-1 - Sewer Overflow Procedures
• SSO Form BP-1 - Sewer Backup Procedures
• Response & Reporting 
• SSO Form RN-1 - Regulatory Notification Packet 
• Public Posting 
• Sewer Spill Reference Guide 
• Sanitary Sewer Overflow Packet 
• Door Hangers 
• SSO Form FG-8 - Vendor Contact Information 
• Sewer Backup Packet 

 

For any questions or comments relating to the City's SSMP or SSO Response Plan, please click here.

On March 9, 2012, our ordinance for the costruction, maintenance and inspection of private sewer laterals went into effect requiring all properties (except those that entered escrow before March 9, 2012) for sale in South San Francisco to have their sewer line inspected prior to transfer of title. Please click here to view the ordinance.

A $150 inspection/processing fee will be charged for all point of sale sewer lateral inspections effective July 1, 2012. Please contact our Public Works Department at (650) 877-8550 if you have any questions or need further information.