Chesterfield
Hydro Jetting in Chesterfield
Chesterfield’s lateral repair program treats routine root removal as maintenance, and most homes here were built in 1970 or later. Hydro jetting cleans an accessible line with pressurized water, loosening buildup and flushing it out. It does not correct a belly, a pulled joint or a break, so whether it suits your line should rest on what the line looks like.
Roots and cabling: how Chesterfield’s program treats cleaning
The City says roots growing through pipe bells and joints are routine maintenance when removing them lets the line work, and that the initial cabling, done by a licensed plumbing company or drainlayer, is routine maintenance the City does not reimburse. A severe blockage that cannot be cabled out can meet the City’s definition of a defective lateral. So roots that keep returning are a maintenance question, not an automatic repair claim.
Jetting can remove roots that are loose or accessible. It does not repair the opening they entered through. The City’s steps name cabling, and we have not confirmed whether jetting would count in its place, so ask Public Works at (636) 537-4762 (the City’s number, not ours) before assuming it does.
What jetting clears, and what the City’s defect list leaves
- Grease and soap buildup
- Debris and wipes caught in the line
- Roots that are loose or accessible
- General buildup on the pipe wall
Jetting does not correct a cracked or broken pipe, an offset or separated joint, a collapsed section, or a belly that holds water. Those are close to the defects the City’s program defines (a collapsed or broken line, a severe offset, a severe backfall or belly), and the City decides what qualifies. The Sewer Pros does not repair or replace sewer lines. If a camera shows such a condition, further evaluation outside our scope may be appropriate.
Mostly newer homes, so a slow line may not be buildup
In American Community Survey 2019-2023 estimates, 85.6 percent of Chesterfield housing was built in 1970 or later, the median year built is 1982, and 1.4 percent was built before 1940 (city-wide figures, with the primary Census table check still pending on our location page). Pipe from that era is more often PVC than clay or cast iron, so scale is less often the story. A belly holding water, a joint opened by ground movement, or damage from later work is more likely.
Jetting a line with a belly can clear the material that settled there and leave the belly. If a line is cleaned and the problem returns, the cause may be something cleaning cannot remove. Jetting also depends on the pipe’s condition and material, and visible structural defects call for a closer evaluation before cleaning, which is why a camera look comes first when it is included.
Before you jet: MSD, Public Works and added water
For a building backup, MSD asks you to call (314) 768-6260 so it can inspect whether the public sewer is involved (MSD’s number, not ours). Added water can contribute to a backup if the line cannot carry it away, so the method and settings are matched to the line, and the work is paced to it. MSD’s Conway Meadows Sanitary Relief project concerns the public sewer, not your lateral.
If what we see goes beyond cleaning, we will say so plainly. Jetting clears what can be removed. It does not tell you whether the City’s program applies to your line.
When to call
Slow drains in more than one fixture
These signs point to a restriction somewhere, but they do not prove what or where it is. A single slow sink is often a drain cleaning question.
A drain that clears and then slows again
A backup that returns is worth looking at in the main line. Whether hydro jetting suits it depends on what the line looks like.
Water backing up in a floor drain, tub, or lowest fixture
This can point to a restriction in the main line. A camera look first helps choose the method when the line can be viewed.
Roots count as maintenance in Chesterfield
Chesterfield’s lateral program treats routine root removal as maintenance, so roots that keep returning are a maintenance question. Whether hydro jetting suits the line depends on its observed condition.
What's included
A look at the access point
We look at where the line can be reached. A cleanout is the common entry point.
A look at the line, when included
A camera shows the pipe’s interior and helps pick the method.
Nozzle and settings chosen for the line
These depend on what the line looks like and what is in it.
The line jetted
Water moves through the hose and nozzle. More water is not automatically better.
A second look, when included
A second look shows what was removed and what remains.
Video and written findings
When a camera is used, you receive the inspection video. Written findings are included.
What happens on site
Review the access point
We look at where the line can be reached. A cleanout is the common entry point.
Look at the line, when included
A camera shows the pipe’s interior and helps pick the method. Pipe material, size, length, and visible defects all matter.
Choose nozzle and settings
These depend on what the line looks like and what is in it. Our equipment includes the Mongoose 184LT trailer-mounted sewer jetter.
Jet the line
Water moves through the hose and nozzle. More water is not automatically better, and extra water can add to a backup, so the work is paced to the line.
Check the result, when included
A second look shows what was removed and what remains.
Sewer Inspection, Diagnostics & Cleaning Services
The Sewer Pros provides sewer camera inspections, sewer diagnostics, sewer cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line locating, and drain cleaning for residential properties. We document the conditions we observe so property owners, homebuyers, and property managers can understand the issue and consider appropriate next steps.
Sewer Camera Inspection
A camera inspection of the accessible sewer line, documenting what is visible. It can help identify observed conditions and support an informed next-step decision.
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.
Hydro Jetting
Use high-pressure water to clean eligible sewer lines. Whether jetting is appropriate depends on the line’s observed condition.
Sewer Cleaning & Camera Inspection
Combine cleaning with visual documentation of the line. See what was observed and whether cleaning changed the conditions visible by camera.
Sewer Line Locating
Help identify the route of an accessible sewer line and locate a specific area when conditions allow. Useful when planning further evaluation or work.
Drain Cleaning
Address buildup or blockages in drains serving sinks, tubs, and other fixtures. The service focuses on the affected drain and the reported symptoms.
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.
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.
Preventative Sewer Maintenance
Arrange sewer inspection or cleaning based on the line’s condition and service needs. Recommendations should be guided by observed evidence.
How we work
The inspection is the product
Finding out what is happening in the line is the job, not a step toward selling a repair.
You see the evidence
Conditions found in the line are documented so you can look at them yourself.
Sewer and drain specialists
Sewer inspection, diagnostics, locating, and cleaning, rather than general plumbing.
The next step stays your decision
If the line needs work beyond cleaning, you decide what to do about it and who does it.
Other St. Louis area locations
Featured service locations
St. Louis City, MO
MSD runs the public sewer for the whole city, and the lateral from your building to that main is the owner’s to maintain.
ZIP codes: 63101, 63102, 63103, 63104, 63106, 63107, 63108, 63109, 63110, 63111, 63112, 63113, 63115, 63116, 63118, 63120, 63139, 63147
Explore St. Louis City
Ballwin, MO
Ballwin runs its own lateral repair program, which starts at the outside wall of the house. A camera inspection shows where along the line a defect sits.
ZIP codes: 63011, 63021
Explore Ballwin
Florissant, MO
Florissant’s City lateral program stops five feet from the foundation, so where along the line a defect sits matters.
ZIP codes: 63031, 63033
Explore Florissant
St. Charles, MO
St. Charles runs its own sewer system through City Public Works, outside the area MSD defines as its service area.
ZIP codes: 63301, 63303
Explore St. Charles
Do not see your community listed?
These featured locations do not represent the full limit of our greater St. Louis service area. Tell us where the property is located and what is happening with the sewer line, and we will confirm whether service is currently available before you schedule.
What our customers say
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Common questions about Hydro Jetting in Chesterfield
In Chesterfield
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.
The basics
What is hydro jetting?
How does hydro jetting work?
Can hydro jetting clear roots, grease, and debris?
Does it fix a cracked, offset, or collapsed pipe?
Safety and limits
Is hydro jetting safe for old pipes?
Can hydro jetting cause a backup?
What can a camera not show?
Symptoms
Why are several drains slow at once?
Does a smell or gurgling mean the main line is clogged?
Are flushable wipes safe, and can hot water or additives dissolve grease?
Planning
What should I ask for and keep?
Do you offer same-day hydro jetting?
How long does hydro jetting take?
How much does it cost?
How often should a line be jetted?
Do I need to prepare anything?
Will I get video or written findings?
Related questions
Is hydro jetting better than snaking?
Should I get my line cleaned before buying or selling a home?
Can the line be located?
Can I jet my line myself?
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.
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