Private sewer lateral inspection and tests checklist
Inspection of a building's private lateral from the public sewer to the building drain: new connections, repairs and abandonments, with the exfiltration or air, hydrostatic and dye tests.
Based on: Common sewer agency lateral standards
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Connection
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection requested with at least 1 working day's notice (typical); permit and lateral construction information on site | |||
| Direct connection to an existing main or manhole: coring and saddle or manhole connection inspected Photo |
Pipe
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe, fittings, couplings, bedding and cleanout parts match the specifications | |||
| Slope and alignment acceptable; couplings aligned; minimum cover met | |||
| Bedded to spring line and inspected before backfill Photo | |||
| Connections to the stub or main and to the building drain built to the details | |||
| Marking tape on site for backfill; separation from other utilities met |
Cleanouts
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleanouts placed where required, standpipes vertical, caps and covers per specification Photo | |||
| Cleanout locations measured and recorded (house sheet or coordinates) for the sewer operator's records |
Tests
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity lateral exfiltration test underway before arrival: standpipe 3 ft above grade, held at least 15 minutes, leakage under 0.16 gal per inch of diameter per 100 ft per hour (typical); or a low-pressure air test | |||
| Low-pressure lateral or ejector line hydrostatic test: 5 psi above the pump's maximum rating (65 psi maximum), held 15 minutes (typical) | |||
| Pressure-to-gravity transition: pressure and gravity parts tested separately, final connection a single new joint | |||
| Dye test: dyed test water seen passing the next downstream manhole Photo | |||
| TV inspection of the connection, where the agency requires it |
Pumps
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior pump operation observed; low-pressure pump start-up done by the supplier |
Other
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| No sump pump, foundation drain, roof drain or other groundwater or stormwater connected to the lateral | |||
| Abandoned lateral capped at the main or stub per the detail and inspected before backfill Photo | |||
| Repair of a damaged lateral inspected before backfill |
Follow-up
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deficiencies given to the contractor on site and listed in a partial inspection letter; re-inspection scheduled |
Photo A photo is expected with this item.
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This checklist is a starting point. Check each item against your current permit and your agency's standards before relying on it. For sewer districts and public works departments in any state: construction and acceptance of public sewer mains, private laterals and interceptors, and grease (FOG) compliance at food service businesses. Test methods follow common standards (UNI-B-6, ASTM F1417, ASTM C1244). Values marked "typical" are common values from published sewer agency standards and pretreatment rules; replace them with your own agency's standards and ordinances.
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