# Philadelphia Sewer Backup: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Philadelphia is responsible for the public sewer main with notice of a defect, but you own the lateral line to your house.

**Who pays:** depends

Philadelphia is responsible for the public sewer main with notice of a dangerous condition, but you own and must maintain the lateral line connecting your house to that main.

**Boundary:** Philadelphia is responsible for the public sewer main under the same 'utility service facilities' exception to state immunity, but you own and must maintain the lateral line connecting your house to that main; file with PWD's Claims Unit.

**Exceptions:** No City liability without notice of a dangerous main condition; Backups caused by your own lateral line are your responsibility, not the City's

## Sources
- [42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 85: Matters Affecting Government Units (§ 8542, Exceptions to governmental immunity)](https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.085..HTM) — "A dangerous condition of the facilities of steam, sewer, water, gas or electric systems owned by the local agency and located within rights-of-way, except that the claimant to recover must establish that the dangerous condition created a reasonably foreseeable risk of the kind of injury which was incurred." (accessed 2026-09-13)
- [Water customer responsibilities](https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/water-pipe-meter-maintenance/customer-responsibilities/) — "Maintaining and repairing the sanitary and storm sewer lateral lines connecting your house to the sewer main." (accessed 2026-09-13)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 8542(b)(5): Utility service facilities exception, Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act](https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.085..HTM) — "A dangerous condition of the facilities of steam, sewer, water, gas or electric systems owned by the local agency and located within rights-of-way, ... the local agency had actual notice or could reasonably be charged with notice under the circumstances of the dangerous condition" (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/philadelphia-sewer-backup-who-pays/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._