Most of Spring Valley is served by the San Diego County Sanitation District, with a few pockets not on municipal sewer. On sewered lots, the lateral from your house to the county main is a private repair handled by a plumber. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Spring Valley.
Spring Valley at a glance
Spring Valley is an unincorporated community of about eleven square miles, mostly single-family homes, with denser multi-family housing added since the 1970s, according to the County's community plan. Sewer service comes from the San Diego County Sanitation District, run by the County Department of Public Works, and the wastewater it collects goes to the City of San Diego's Point Loma Treatment Plant. The community plan notes that some pockets are not on municipal sewer and use private onsite wastewater systems instead. Permits for work here go through County of San Diego Planning & Development Services rather than a city building department.
What to do now
- Stop running water so the backup doesn't spread.
- Look at the street. Overflow from a manhole, or several homes affected at once, is a matter for the County Sanitation District.
- If only your home is involved, find the yard cleanout and keep it clear for the plumber.
- Keep pets and kids away from wastewater, and don't run soaked items through the washer.
- Call to be connected with a local plumber, and mention whether your home is on county sewer or a private onsite system.
On a lot that isn't on municipal sewer, a plumber can still clear and repair the drain pipe running from the house to the onsite system. Work on the onsite system itself is a separate specialty.
Symptom guide
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Tub backs up when the toilet flushes | Blockage in the main building sewer |
| Water pooling at the cleanout | Blockage between the cleanout and the main |
| Clogs that return every few weeks | Root intrusion or an offset joint |
| Several slow drains on the same floor | Partial blockage in the shared line |
| Sewer odor outdoors along the pipe route | Cracked pipe or a loose cleanout cap |
Cost factors
- Depth and length of the damaged pipe
- Slopes, retaining walls or hardscape over the line
- Trenchless lining compared with open excavation
- Whether the line runs to the county main or to an onsite system
- Permit and inspection through County Planning & Development Services
Hillside streets such as those around Dictionary Hill can mean steep or deep laterals, and the plumber will want to see how the line runs before quoting any excavation.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Spring Valley
How do I find out who provides sewer service at my address?
My property isn't on municipal sewer. Can a plumber still help with the drain line?
Where does the wastewater from my house end up?
Does a sewer lateral repair need a permit here?
More plumbing services in Spring Valley
Sewer Line Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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