If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Compare licensed plumbers on AngiGet more than one quote before a sewer, water-line, or drain repair.
See what a home warranty covers (Choice)Read the coverage and exclusions before you buy; not every repair qualifies.
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Default rule and exceptions
Owner is responsible for the lateral on their property and the segment continuing under the right-of-way to the SAWS main. SAWS maintains only the main.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | SAWS: homeowners must "call a licensed plumber to televise your line... and clear any blockage on your side of the main," and repairs on the owner side of the property line are excluded from reimbursement. |
| City / public agency | SAWS maintains the main. For a problem found "beyond your property (in the right-of-way, street, alley or easement)", SAWS: "SAWS will only reimburse the customer based on normal and customary plumbing charges related to electronically locating the problem. Reimbursements will not be approved for property improvements such as new cleanouts." |
| Exceptions | SAWS reimburses only normal and customary plumbing charges for electronically locating a problem beyond the property line, not the repair |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 27, 2026.
Call a licensed plumber to televise your line (inspect it with a video camera) and clear any blockage on your side of the main.
SAWS will only reimburse the customer based on normal and customary plumbing charges related to electronically locating the problem. Reimbursements will not be approved for property improvements such as new cleanouts.
beyond your property (in the right-of-way, street, alley or easement)
City rules rest on state law. Read Texas's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sewer lateral in San Antonio, TX?
The property owner. SAWS: homeowners must "call a licensed plumber to televise your line... and clear any blockage on your side of the main," and repairs on the owner side of the property line are excluded from reimbursement.
What does the city cover in San Antonio, TX?
SAWS maintains the main. For a problem found "beyond your property (in the right-of-way, street, alley or easement)", SAWS: "SAWS will only reimburse the customer based on normal and customary plumbing charges related to electronically locating the problem. Reimbursements will not be approved for property improvements such as new cleanouts."
Are there exceptions in San Antonio, TX?
SAWS reimburses only normal and customary plumbing charges for electronically locating a problem beyond the property line, not the repair
Is there any cost help for sewer lateral in San Antonio, TX?
SAWS reimburses the plumber locate charge (not repair cost) when the defect is confirmed past the property line
What is this based on for San Antonio, TX?
This verdict is sourced to SAWS: Plumbing Backed Up? (owner responsible; locate-only reimbursement) and 4 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- SAWS: Plumbing Backed Up? (owner responsible; locate-only reimbursement)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-07
- San Antonio Water System (SAWS) official siteofficial · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-07
- Plumbing Backed Up?: Sewer Lateral Reimbursement Programofficial-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- SAWS: Plumbing Backed Up? (owner responsible; locate-only reimbursement)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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