One of the most frequently asked questions of the Henrico County Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is who’s responsible for water and sewer lines.
“The county maintains all of the water and sewer pipes from the street to the property line,” said DPU Wastewater Collection Engineer Ricky Blunt. “Anything from the property line back toward the house — and within the house — is the homeowner’s responsibility.”
If residents encounter problems with their sewage or water lines, DPU Assistant Director Bentley Chan maintained they should call DPU first.
“If it’s an issue related to your water or sewer service, then please give us a call. We’re here to help,” he said.
DPU staff members will visit the property to investigate the potential problem. They can determine what’s wrong and who’s responsible for the repair.
“If your water has a foul smell or you’re experiencing low pressure, if water’s leaking or you can’t turn it off, definitely call the county first,” added Blunt. “We’ll come out and determine if the issue’s related to the county-maintained portion of the lines or if it’s a private issue. We can help point you in the right direction.”
In the meantime, there are proactive steps to prevent problems. According to Blunt, homeowners should avoid flushing anything down a drain or toilet that doesn’t degrade. Some examples would be grease, wipes and paper towels.
“Henrico County is all about customer service,” explained Blunt. “We have employees on standby to help serve you. We don’t want you to waste money or time if there is a problem the county can fix.”
The water and sewer repair line, (804) 727-8700, is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (804) 501-5025 after hours, on weekends and holidays.
