The City of Cottage Grove maintains the main sewer line. Problems inside your house, and in the sewer line between your house and the main, are the property owner's responsibility. If water comes up when nobody is using any, or neighbors have trouble too, call Cottage Grove Public Works first at 651-458-2808, which is answered 24 hours a day.
Where your line ends and the city's begins
Every house has its own sewer service line: a single pipe that leaves the basement, runs under the yard and connects to the city's main sewer under the street. In Cottage Grove, the city's Sewer page is direct about who looks after what:
- The city: the main sewer line.
- The property owner: problems in the house, and in the sewer line between the main and the house.
Source: City of Cottage Grove, Sewer.
In practice, that means the pipe under your lawn, including the part under the front yard closest to the street, is yours to clean and repair.
How to tell which one is blocked
You can't see the blockage, but you can read the clues:
- Likely the city main: water rises in your basement when no water is being used in your house, or neighbors on the street are reporting backups too. The city says this "could be a mainline sewer issue."
- Likely your line: the backup happens when you run water (laundry, showers, flushing), your neighbors are fine, and it may have happened before.
City says its main is clear? Then the blockage is in your line. A drain tech can clear it and show you what caused it.
Call nowWho to call first, town by town
Cottage Grove
Call Public Works at 651-458-2808 to report a sanitary sewer backup or emergency sewer problem. The city says the line is answered 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
South St. Paul
South St. Paul asks residents to contact its Utilities Division before hiring a drain cleaning company. City crews check the main through a nearby manhole. If the main is clear, the problem is likely in your private sewer service line, and you're advised to call a licensed plumber or drain cleaning service. Weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., call Public Works at 651-554-3225. After hours, weekends and holidays, call 911 to report the sewer emergency. The city also asks you to let it know after your service line has been cleaned, because cleaning can push debris into the main. (source)
Hastings
The city runs the wastewater system: about 90 miles of sanitary sewer lines and eight lift stations. The utility direct line is 651-480-6185 (office hours 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), and the after-hours emergency line is 651-248-3271. (source)
Inver Grove Heights, Afton and Hampton
Check your city's public works page or call city hall for the sewer emergency number. In Afton, find out first whether your home is on a city sewer line or a private system, because that decides who you call.
What about insurance?
Many standard homeowners policies don't cover water that backs up through a drain or sewer unless you've added sewer and drain backup coverage, which is usually a separate endorsement with its own limit. Read your policy or call your agent before you need it. If you have a backup:
- Photograph the water, the drain and the damage before cleaning up.
- Keep the drain tech's invoice and ask what they found. A camera recording helps.
- Report it to your insurer promptly. Most policies require prompt notice.
We're not insurance agents. Your policy wording is what counts.
Repairs to your line
If a camera inspection finds a broken or collapsed section in your service line, the repair is the owner's job, even if the pipe is under the boulevard near the street. Before agreeing to dig, ask to see the footage and have the tech mark the location and depth. Repairs that involve digging in the public right of way usually need a city permit, so ask whoever does the work to handle it.