Sewer Inspection & Cleaning in Chesterfield, MO
Independent sewer camera inspection, diagnostics, line locating, hydro jetting and sewer cleaning for Chesterfield 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 maintains the public sewer main. For a property on MSD’s system, the lateral line from your building and its connection to that main are private property, and the owner maintains and repairs them.
- Chesterfield runs its own Residential Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program, funded by a $28 annual fee on eligible residential tax bills. It can pay for a qualifying defective lateral, up to $15,000, but it treats routine root removal as maintenance.
- A sewer camera inspection gives you recorded evidence before you clean, buy, or approve major work.
Services in Chesterfield
Sewer Inspection, Diagnostics & Cleaning Services in Chesterfield
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 Chesterfield property?
For a property on the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) system, MSD 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
MSD is the regional public wastewater utility serving most of St. Louis County, and it publishes sewer projects in Chesterfield. If a building backup is caused by a public sewer line, MSD says it makes the necessary repair. Which utility serves a specific address, such as a property near a service boundary or on a septic system, 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. Chesterfield’s City program defines its eligible lateral as running from three to five feet outside the foundation or exterior wall to the sewer main in the street or sewer easement.
Scroll horizontally to see the full table.
| Question | Public sewer main | Private lateral line |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns it | MSD operates the public sewer system | The property owner. MSD states the lateral line and its connection to the public sewer are private property. |
| Who maintains and repairs it | MSD, including the repair when a public sewer line caused a backup | The property owner |
| Who to contact first | MSD at (314) 768-6260 for a building backup. MSD says it will inspect and tell you whether the situation qualifies for its limited backup-assistance program. | If the cause is your lateral, you arrange inspection or cleaning. For the City’s repair program, contact Chesterfield Public Works at (636) 537-4762. |
| What help exists | MSD crews for public sewer problems | Chesterfield’s lateral repair program may pay for a qualifying defective lateral at an eligible residential property, up to $15,000. Routine root removal is not treated as a defect. |
| 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 Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield
How sewers work in Chesterfield, 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 regional description. MSD’s page does not label every Chesterfield parcel, so treat it as background rather than a finding about your address.
In Chesterfield, MSD’s Conway Meadows Sanitary Relief project is designed to replace about 1,400 feet of undersized sewer between Conway Road and North Outer Forty Road with pipe 18 to 24 inches wide. MSD says the goal is to reduce basement backups and sewer overflows during intense rainfall.
MSD’s project page is undated and described construction starting in spring 2026 and lasting about 12 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.
Home age and your lateral
Newer homes, newer pipe, and what a camera can still find
Most Chesterfield homes are newer than the typical St. Louis-area house, but a newer lateral is not the same as a problem-free one.
In the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, 85.6% of housing in the City of Chesterfield was built in 1970 or later, the median year built is 1982, and 1.4% was built before 1940. Those figures describe the city as a whole, not every address MSD serves.
Pipe from that era is more often PVC than clay, cast iron or bituminized fiber, so the material failures common in older areas matter less. Ground movement does not wait for a pipe to age, and a line can be disturbed by work done after it was installed.
A belly produces the slow, repeating drainage people associate with an old failing line. The cause is different, and so is the remedy. Era tells you what to expect. A camera shows what is there.
Scroll horizontally to see the full table.
| What a camera can find | What it looks like | Why a newer pipe does not rule it out |
|---|---|---|
| Bellies | A section that holds water, with solids settling where flow slows | Soil settles regardless of pipe age |
| Joint separation | A gap or offset at a joint | Soil movement, not material decay, opens joints |
| Damage from later work | A dent, crack or offset near an addition, landscaping or a utility crossing | The disturbance happens after installation |
| Roots | Fine roots entering at a gap or joint | Any opening lets roots in |
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 home, 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.
For an emergency that threatens life or property, Chesterfield’s Who To Call guide says to call 911. 911 is not a sewer dispatch line.
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 Chesterfield Public Works
(636) 537-4762For the Residential Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program. The City lists Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, and City Hall at 690 Chesterfield Parkway West. This is the City’s number, 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 Chesterfield’s Sewer Lateral Repair Program
The City program can pay for repair of a qualifying defective lateral, up to $15,000. It treats roots in pipe joints as routine maintenance when removing them lets the line work, and the City runs its own video review.
Eligible properties are owner-owned single-family homes, duplexes, condominium buildings and multifamily buildings with no more than six dwelling units. Commercial and industrial properties and larger buildings are excluded, and owners who are delinquent on their tax bill cannot participate.
The City funds the program with a $28 annual fee on eligible residential real-estate tax bills, collected by St. Louis County. Voters approved the fee in 2000 and the program began January 1, 2001.
The City’s policy says the owner, not a tenant, must apply, and that in a real estate transaction the seller must be the one to apply.
Terms shown are from the City’s Sewer Lateral Policy & Procedures dated March 2026 and its application form revised May 2024. The City’s pages do not state current funding availability, and the policy says a City committee may amend it. Confirm current terms and funding with Public Works before you apply.
What the City program covers
- Dye and video investigation, excavation, backfill, and repair or replacement of a qualifying defective lateral
- Defects the City defines as a collapsed or broken line, a severe offset, a severe backfall or belly, or a severe blockage that cannot be cabled out
- Limited grading and sod, plus the street, sidewalk and driveway restoration listed in the policy
What it does not cover
- Roots growing through pipe bells and joints, when removing them lets the line work
- The initial cabling, which the City calls routine maintenance
- Pipe under a building or structure, and interior cleanup, personal property, temporary housing or lost income
- Landscaping, fences, patios, sprinklers, retaining walls and similar items over the line, or need caused by a natural disaster, negligence or other excavation
- Costs above $15,000, though street pavement and sidewalk restoration in the right-of-way is not counted toward that limit
How the City program works, in four steps
Step 1
Have the line cabled
A licensed plumbing company or licensed drainlayer cables the lateral first. The City does not reimburse this step.
Step 2
Get the packet
If cabling does not fix it, contact Public Works for an application packet, or download it from the City’s website.
Step 3
Owner applies
Submit the form with the $200 non-refundable fee, written proof dated within 6 months that the line could not be opened, a paid tax receipt, a hold harmless agreement and the paid cabling bill.
Step 4
City reviews
The City’s contractor televises the lateral, and Public Works reviews the video and accepts or denies repair. Requests are handled first come, first served.
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 Chesterfield
Sewer inspection before buying a Chesterfield 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.
In the City’s published materials we reviewed, we found no sewer-lateral inspection requirement for an ordinary residential sale. Chesterfield’s occupancy and re-occupancy materials address businesses, so a buyer who wants evidence has to ask for it. If a problem turns up, note that the City’s lateral program policy says the seller must be the one to apply when a home is in a real estate transaction. Ask your agent and Public Works 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
Chesterfield 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
Chesterfield sewer questions, answered
Who is responsible for a sewer lateral in Chesterfield?
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. Chesterfield’s City program can pay qualifying repair costs under its own eligibility and defect rules, but it is a cost program, not a change in who owns the lateral.
Does Chesterfield have a sewer lateral repair program?
Yes. The City runs a Residential Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program funded by a $28 annual fee on eligible residential real-estate tax bills, collected by St. Louis County. The City says it took effect January 1, 2001.
Which Chesterfield homes can qualify for the lateral repair program?
The policy covers owner-owned single-family homes, duplexes, condominium buildings and multifamily buildings with up to six dwelling units. Commercial and industrial properties and larger buildings are excluded, and owners who are delinquent on their tax bill cannot participate.
How much can Chesterfield’s lateral program pay?
The City’s policy allows 100% of authorized costs up to $15,000 for a qualifying defective lateral. Costs above that are the owner’s, and street pavement and sidewalk restoration in the right-of-way is not counted toward the limit. These terms come from the City’s March 2026 policy, so confirm current terms and funding with Public Works.
Does Chesterfield’s program cover a clogged line or tree roots?
Not automatically. The City requires the owner to have the line cabled first and does not reimburse that step. Roots growing through pipe bells and joints are treated as routine maintenance when removing them lets the line work, while a severe blockage that cannot be cabled out can meet the City’s definition of a defective lateral.
What does a Chesterfield owner submit to apply?
The owner, not a tenant, submits the application with a $200 non-refundable fee, written proof dated within 6 months that a licensed plumber or drainlayer could not open the line, and a paid real-estate-tax receipt. The City’s form also asks for a hold harmless agreement and the paid cabling bill.
What should I do if sewage backs up in my Chesterfield 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 home, missing manhole covers and flooded streets as urgent reports.
Is a sewer inspection required before buying a Chesterfield home?
We found no residential point-of-sale or transfer sewer-lateral inspection requirement in the City’s published materials we reviewed, so this reads as none found rather than a confirmed absence. Chesterfield’s occupancy and re-occupancy materials address businesses. A buyer can still choose to inspect before closing.
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 Chesterfield.
Schedule a camera inspection when you are dealing with recurring backups, slow drains, unexplained blockages, a City lateral program question, or a Chesterfield 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 20, 2025)
- MSD Project Clear: Sewer backups (updated December 18, 2019; confirm the phone number with MSD)
- MSD Project Clear: Building cleanup guide questions (updated August 20, 2025)
- MSD Project Clear: Conway Meadows Sanitary Relief project (undated)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates (Chesterfield city housing age; owner-approved, primary table check pending)
- MSD Project Clear: Service area (February 10, 2020)
- City of Chesterfield: Residential Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Program
- City of Chesterfield: Sewer Lateral Policy & Procedures (dated March 2026)
- City of Chesterfield: Sewer lateral program application (Rev. May 31, 2024)
- City of Chesterfield: Who To Call (undated)
- City of Chesterfield: Occupancy permits (January 1, 2025)
- City of Chesterfield: Re-occupancy materials (undated)
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026. Official guidance can change, so confirm details with MSD or the City for your address.