Sewer Inspection and Cleaning in Ballwin, MO
Independent sewer camera inspection, diagnostics, line locating, hydro jetting and sewer cleaning for Ballwin properties. Get clear evidence of what is happening inside your sewer line before you apply for the City’s lateral program, buy a home, or approve major work.
- Camera inspection with documented findings
- Cleaning and hydro jetting when the evidence supports it
- Locally owned and family-operated since 2011
Request a Sewer Inspection
Tell us what is going on. We will follow up during business hours.
Step 1 of 4
What happens next
- Send your request or call us
- We schedule your inspection
- You review the recorded findings
For sewage backing up into your home or any problem with the public sewer, contact MSD first at (314) 768-6260.
Key takeaways
- MSD owns and maintains the public sewer main. The lateral line from your building, including its connection to that main, is private property, and the owner maintains and repairs it.
- Ballwin runs its own Sewer Lateral Repair Program, funded by a $28 annual fee on the real estate tax bill. It pays up to $4,500 per repair, or up to $7,500 where the City approves special circumstances, and it treats clearing roots once a year or less as normal maintenance.
- A sewer camera inspection gives you recorded evidence before you clean, buy, or approve major work.
Services in Ballwin
Sewer Inspection, Diagnostics and Cleaning Services in Ballwin
Sewer Camera Inspection
See recorded video of the accessible sewer line. An inspection can help identify observed conditions and support an informed next-step decision.
Best when you want to see what is inside the line.
Sewer Cleaning
Remove buildup and obstructions from sewer lines when cleaning is appropriate. A camera inspection can help document line conditions before or after cleaning.
Best when a line is slow or partly blocked.
Hydro Jetting
Use high-pressure water to clear eligible sewer lines. Whether jetting is appropriate depends on the line’s observed condition.
Best when buildup keeps returning.
Sewer Cleaning & Camera Inspection
Combine cleaning with visual documentation of the line. See what was observed and whether cleaning changed the conditions visible on camera.
Best when you want proof of what cleaning changed.
Sewer Line Locating
Help identify the route of an accessible sewer line and locate a specific area when conditions allow. Useful when planning evaluation or work.
Best when you need to know where the line runs.
Drain Cleaning
Address buildup or blockages in drain lines, sinks, tubs and fixtures. The service focuses on the affected drain and the reported symptoms.
Best when one sink, tub or fixture is clogged.
Pre-Purchase Sewer Inspection
Get a visual assessment of accessible portions of the sewer line before buying a property. The findings can help inform your due diligence.
Best when you are buying a home.
Recurring Sewer Backup Diagnosis
Investigate recurring backups and document conditions observed during the inspection. Findings can help clarify what may be contributing to the problem.
Best when backups keep coming back.
Preventative Sewer Maintenance
Arrange sewer inspection or cleaning based on the line’s condition and needs. Recommendations should be guided by observed evidence.
Best when you want to stay ahead of problems.
Not sure which service you need?
Tell us what is happening and we will point you to the right inspection or cleaning.
Who is responsible for what
Who is responsible for the sewer line at a Ballwin property?
For a property on the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) system, MSD owns and maintains the public sewer main. The lateral line that connects your building to that main, including its connection, is private property, and MSD says the owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing it.
Public - MSD
The public sewer main
The City of Ballwin lists MSD as the sewer utility serving its residents, and the City’s lateral program page says the sewer main is owned and maintained by MSD. MSD says it sends a crew for urgent public-system reports and runs a dye test on reported cave-ins to see whether a defect in the public sewer caused them. Which utility serves a specific address, such as a property near a service boundary, should be confirmed by address.
Private - Owner
The lateral line
The pipe from your building to the public sewer is private property. Clogs, roots, grease and damage on it are the owner’s to address. Ballwin’s City program defines its eligible lateral as starting at the outside wall of the house and continuing to the MSD sewer main. The “building sewer” under the house is outside that program.
Scroll horizontally to see the full table.
| Question | Public sewer main | Private lateral line |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns it | MSD owns and maintains the sewer main | The property owner. MSD states the lateral line and its connection to the public sewer are private property. |
| Who maintains and repairs it | MSD | The property owner |
| Who to contact first | MSD at (314) 768-6260 for a building backup. MSD says a representative will inspect to see whether the situation qualifies for its limited building-backup assistance program. | If the cause is your lateral, you arrange inspection or cleaning. For the City’s repair program, contact the Ballwin Inspections Department at (636) 227-2129. |
| What help exists | MSD crews for urgent public sewer reports | Ballwin’s program may pay for a failed section of a qualifying lateral, up to $4,500 per repair, with up to $7,500 where the City approves special circumstances. Funding and eligibility rules apply. |
| Where an inspection helps | Not applicable | A camera inspection documents the line’s condition and where a problem sits. |
This is general information from MSD and City of Ballwin sources, not legal advice. We did not find a published rule on who owns the part of a lateral under the street, so we only repeat MSD’s general statement. Contact MSD or the City to confirm how it applies to your address.
Sewers in Ballwin
How sewers work in Ballwin, and what MSD is building here
MSD says most of St. Louis County is served by a separate sewer system, while St. Louis City is served by a combined one.
That is MSD’s county-level description. MSD’s page does not label every Ballwin parcel, so treat it as background rather than a finding about your address.
In Ballwin and Clarkson Valley, MSD’s Valley Drive Sanitary Relief Phase III project is described as replacing about 5,500 feet of undersized wastewater sewer with pipe 8 to 15 inches wide. MSD says the goal is to reduce basement backups and sewer overflows, which occur when sewers become overloaded during intense rainfall.
MSD’s project page gives a tentative schedule with construction estimated to begin in Fall 2024 and last about 24 months, so check MSD for the current status.
A public sewer project does not tell you the condition of any individual property’s lateral. Only an inspection of your line can show that.
Older pipe and your lateral
Older clay laterals, and what a camera can find
Ballwin says most older sewer laterals in the city are clay pipe, which tends to crack, break, separate at joints and let roots in, and those defects can exist while the line still works normally.
In the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, the median year built for homes in the City of Ballwin is 1976. That figure describes the city as a whole, not every address MSD serves.
A drain that still works is not proof of a sound pipe. Ballwin’s own program rule shows why the difference matters: roots that need clearing more than once a year are treated as a covered repair, while roots controlled by clearing once a year or less are treated as normal maintenance. A camera shows which situation your line is in.
Housing-age figure: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, City of Ballwin. Pipe condition statements: City of Ballwin Sewer Lateral Repair Program page. The table below is general context, not a finding about any one home.
Scroll horizontally to see the full table.
| What a camera can find | What it looks like | Why it matters in Ballwin |
|---|---|---|
| Cracks or breaks | A split or missing section of pipe wall | The City names breaks in clay pipe as a defect that can lead to blockages |
| Joint separation | A gap or offset where two pipe sections meet | The City names separated joints as a way roots enter |
| Roots | Fine roots entering at a gap or joint | The City looks at how often roots must be cleared |
| Blockage with an intact pipe | Grease or debris with no visible defect | Cleaning, not repair, may be what the line needs |
Know who to call
Public problem or private line? Start with the right contact.
MSD tells customers with a building backup to call it so it can inspect. MSD lists raw sewage inside or outside a house, missing manhole covers and flooded streets as urgent reports.
If MSD or a plumber points to your lateral, or you want proof of its condition, that is where an independent camera inspection helps.
MSD building backup line
(314) 768-6260Published by MSD for building backups so it can inspect whether the situation qualifies for its limited assistance program. This is MSD’s number, not ours.
City of Ballwin Inspections and Public Works
(636) 227-2129Inspections, at (636) 227-2129, handles questions about the Sewer Lateral Repair Program, building permits and occupancy inspections. Public Works, at (636) 227-9000, takes questions about sanitary sewer repair permits and excavation in the street right-of-way. The City lists its Government Center as open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. These are the City’s numbers, not ours.
The Sewer Pros
Inspection, locating and cleaning for your private lateral. (314) 821-1600, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
City lateral repair program
Using an inspection with Ballwin’s Sewer Lateral Repair Program
Ballwin’s program can pay for repair of a failed lateral section, up to $4,500 per job, and up to $7,500 where the City approves special circumstances such as deep excavation or street cutting. The City says it is not a warranty program, and it treats root clearing once a year or less as normal maintenance.
Ballwin voters approved a $28 annual fee in April 1999. It is collected with the real estate property tax and deposited in a fund that is designated only for sewer lateral repair.
The City says the program is meant to help residents with problems that, if not repaired, would leave them unable to live in the home. Normal wear is not covered while the lateral still functions.
Roots that need clearing more than once a year are a covered repair. Roots that annual clearing can control are normal maintenance. An application that shows only roots or other minor defects must document a history of clearing blockages more than once a year.
How payment works depends on funding. If program funds are available, the program contractor bills the City directly and the homeowner pays anything above the $4,500 cap. If funds are exhausted for the year, the homeowner pays the contractor and is reimbursed up to $4,500 when funds become available. The City tells applicants about fund availability when they apply.
Terms shown are from the City’s Sewer Lateral Repair Program page, which is undated. The City’s pages do not state current funding availability. Confirm current terms, the fee and funding with the Inspections Department before you apply.
What the City program covers
- Excavation and repair of the failed section of the sewer lateral
- Backfill and restoration by grading into a mound for settlement, with seed and straw
- Removal and hauling of construction and pavement materials
- Patching of private driveways, sidewalks, public sidewalks, curbs and street pavement
What it does not cover
- The “building sewer” located under the house
- Normal wear and usage while the lateral still functions
- Roots that annual maintenance can control, when the pipe otherwise flows
- The cost of cabling to clear a blockage or to document a failure
- The cost of a video of the lateral to document a problem
- Removal, replacement or loss of trees or shrubs, and any future settlement of the trench
- Damage to or restoration of adjoining private property or utilities
- Costs above the $4,500 cap, unless the City approves a higher amount for special circumstances
How the City program works, in four steps
Step 1
Document the problem
Gather documentation that the lateral has a structural problem that cabling cannot permanently correct, or that backups will likely continue. If cabling cannot open the line, include the paid invoices from the cabling contractors describing what they found.
Step 2
Apply through MyGov
Submit the application on the City’s MyGov portal with the $150 application fee and your documentation.
Step 3
The City reviews
The City reviews the application and tells you whether it is approved. If approved, you call the program contractor, and the contractor, you and the City sign a contract. No bids are necessary.
Step 4
Repair, inspection and payment
The contractor obtains a plumbing permit before work begins. The City inspects the finished work and measures the cost, and payment follows the funding rules above.
See our sewer lateral inspection & reporting service for the St. Louis area.
Independent sewer inspection & second opinions
Before You Approve an Expensive Sewer Repair, Get an Opinion With Nothing to Sell
A sewer backup or major repair recommendation can make a costly decision feel urgent. The Sewer Pros inspects and documents the condition inside your sewer line so you can understand what is actually happening before you approve cleaning, excavation, lining, or replacement.
Because we do not perform sewer repairs or replacements, we do not profit from selling you the work. Our role is to give you clear video evidence, straightforward findings, and an honest opinion you can use to make the next decision.
Already received a repair recommendation? Bring us in for an independent second opinion before you sign off on major work.
Step 1
Inspect
We use a sewer camera to examine the line for blockages, roots, damage, offsets, standing water, and other visible conditions.
Step 2
Document
Receive video evidence and clear findings that show what was observed inside the line, so you are not forced to rely only on a verbal repair recommendation.
Step 3
Decide
Use the findings to determine whether the issue calls for cleaning, monitoring, a repair estimate, or another qualified opinion, without pressure to buy a repair from us.
Buying in Ballwin
Sewer inspection before buying a Ballwin home
A sewer camera inspection shows the visible condition of the lateral before you close. Ask your home inspector what their inspection covers. A sewer scope is a separate, focused inspection of the sewer line.
Ballwin requires an inspection and an Occupancy Permit before a new resident, tenant or business occupies a house, condominium, apartment or commercial building. In the City materials we reviewed, we found no sewer lateral inspection or certification requirement tied to that process, so a buyer who wants evidence has to ask for it. Ballwin also says its Sewer Lateral Repair Program is not intended to satisfy a home sale contingency. When a buyer’s lateral inspection notes defects but the line has no history of the repeated blockage or failure the program looks for, the City says the repair is not covered. A new owner who later has a qualifying problem can apply under the normal criteria. Ask your agent and the Inspections Department how that fits your timeline. Findings are informational and not legal advice.
For agents and inspectors
Working with real estate professionals
We are affiliated with the St. Louis Association of Realtors, ASHI, the Women’s Council of Realtors and St. Charles Realtors. We provide video when a camera is used, and written findings. Findings are informational and not legal advice.
Nearby service areas
Serving the wider St. Louis area
Ballwin is in St. Louis County, and St. Louis City is a separate jurisdiction with its own rules. Lateral programs and sewer details differ by municipality, so terms and costs change from place to place.
What our customers say
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Common questions
Ballwin sewer questions, answered
Who is responsible for a sewer lateral in Ballwin?
MSD states that the lateral line and its connection to the public sewer are private property, so the property owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing them. Ballwin’s City program can help pay for qualifying repairs under its own rules, but it is a cost program, not a change in who owns the lateral. Sources: MSD lateral line page; City of Ballwin program page.
Does Ballwin have a sewer lateral repair program?
Yes. The City runs a Sewer Lateral Repair Program funded by a $28 annual fee collected with the real estate property tax, which Ballwin voters approved in April 1999. The City says it helps with failures that would leave residents unable to live in the home, not normal wear. The program does not cover the building sewer under the house. Source: City of Ballwin program page.
How much does Ballwin’s lateral program pay?
The City’s standard cap is $4,500 per repair. The City may reimburse up to $7,500 for special circumstances such as deep excavation or street cutting and repair, or others approved by the City Administrator or designee. If the repair costs more than the cap, the homeowner pays the excess. If program funds are exhausted for the year, the owner pays the contractor and is reimbursed up to $4,500 when funds become available. Confirm current terms and funding with the Inspections Department. Source: City of Ballwin program page.
Do tree roots qualify for Ballwin’s program?
Only when they are a recurring problem. The City treats roots that can be cleared once a year or less as normal maintenance and does not fund them. Roots that need clearing more than once a year are a covered repair, and an application showing only roots or minor defects must document a history of clearing more than once a year. Source: City of Ballwin program page.
What does a Ballwin owner submit to apply?
The owner applies on the City’s MyGov portal with a $150 application fee and documentation of a structural problem that cabling cannot permanently correct, or that backups will likely continue. If the line cannot be opened by cabling, the application should include paid invoices from the cabling contractors describing the problem. Source: City of Ballwin program page.
Will the program pay for a problem found in a home-sale inspection?
Not unless the line meets the program’s criteria. The City says the program is not intended to satisfy a home sale contingency, and that defects noted in a buyer’s lateral inspection with no history of meeting its criteria are not covered. A new owner who later has a qualifying problem can apply. Source: City of Ballwin program page.
Does Ballwin require an inspection when a home is sold or rented?
Yes, a general one. The City says occupied buildings must be inspected and certified for compliance with the Ballwin Housing Code before a new resident, tenant or business occupies them, and new occupants need an Occupancy Permit. We found no sewer lateral inspection requirement in the City materials we reviewed, so this reads as none found rather than a confirmed absence. Source: City of Ballwin building permits and occupancy inspection page.
What should I do if sewage backs up in my Ballwin building?
MSD tells customers with a building backup to call 314-768-6260 so it can inspect and determine whether the situation qualifies for its limited assistance program. MSD treats raw sewage inside or outside a house, missing manhole covers and flooded streets as urgent reports. Source: MSD sewer backups page.
What does a sewer camera inspection show?
It can reveal blockages, root intrusion, separated joints, offsets, cracks, standing water and other observable conditions in accessible sewer piping, recorded on video.
Do you repair or replace sewer lines?
No. We inspect, locate, diagnose and clean. That independence is the point: our recommendations are not built around selling a repair.
Evidence before expensive decisions
Schedule a sewer camera inspection in Ballwin.
Schedule a camera inspection when you are dealing with recurring backups, slow drains, unexplained blockages, a City lateral program question, or a Ballwin property you plan to buy. You get video evidence of visible conditions inside the accessible line.
We document what the camera shows and explain the findings in plain language, so you can decide whether the evidence points to cleaning, monitoring, or further evaluation.
- See the visible condition of the line on video
- Receive documented findings you can review
- Choose your next step without a repair sale
Request service
Step 1 of 4
Sources
- MSD Project Clear: Lateral line (updated August 19, 2025)
- MSD Project Clear: Sewer backups (updated August 19, 2025)
- MSD Project Clear: Valley Drive Sanitary Relief Phase III (updated November 10, 2025; schedule tentative)
- City of Ballwin: Sewer Lateral Repair Program (undated)
- City of Ballwin: Permits and Site Inspections (undated)
- City of Ballwin: Building Permits and Occupancy Inspection Information (undated)
- City of Ballwin: Utilities and Services (undated)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates (City of Ballwin median year built)
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026. Official guidance can change, so confirm details with MSD or the City for your address.