Barrow County Sewer and Drain Guide for Homeowners

Who provides sewer service here

The county's Wastewater Division serves about 2,755 customers in unincorporated Barrow County, the City of Auburn, the City of Statham and parts of Winder. It runs two water reclamation facilities, on Tanners Bridge Road and Barber Creek Road, and maintains 13 pump stations and about 54 miles of gravity sewer (Wastewater Division).

In Auburn, the city handles the bill. Auburn told its utility customers that Barrow County had notified the city of a sewer rate increase effective October 1, 2025, which would appear on their city utility bills (City of Auburn notice). Auburn's own utility department lists water, garbage and road services (City of Auburn Utilities).

The county's utility customer service policy, approved in October 2025, covers billing and service for its water and sewer customers (Customer Service Policy). If your monthly bill from the county or the City of Auburn shows no sewer charge, ask whether your home is on a septic system.

Where your responsibility ends

Barrow's policy says the department won't repair lines, service laterals or fittings that don't belong to it or that sit on private property. It treats every line between the department's meter or service cleanout and the building, including lines inside or under the structure, as private (Customer Service Policy, Section 26).

The county's water and wastewater standards add that a service lateral serving only one customer is that customer's responsibility to maintain. Under the same standards, new sewer service connections run from the main to the edge of the permanent easement or right-of-way and are plugged there, and a service lateral's cleanout belongs at the right-of-way line (Standards and Specifications, Sections 1.06 and 3.06). Only department employees or people the department authorizes may work on its lines or tap into county lines (Customer Service Policy, Section 8).

The policy and the standards don't spell out the dividing line in the same words, so ask the Wastewater Division where its responsibility ends at your address before paying for work near the street. The statewide guide to sewer line responsibility explains the common arrangements.

If sewage backs up

The Wastewater Division's office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and its page lists a separate emergency number for weekends and for weekdays after 4:30 p.m. (Wastewater Division). Under the customer service policy, the department doesn't make repairs on private lines, and it inspects customer service requests within five business days (Customer Service Policy, Sections 26 and 27).

Auburn's utilities page lists an after-hours number for emergency water issues (City of Auburn Utilities), so Auburn sewer customers should ask the city ahead of time which number to call for a sewer problem. For what to do inside the house, see the sewer backup guide.

Repairs, permits and inspections

In unincorporated Barrow County, Planning and Community Development issues building permits through its online Citizen Self Service portal, where trade work is filed as a sub-permit and inspections are scheduled. A residential permit for a home on septic needs an Environmental Health approval letter; a home on public sewer doesn't (Barrow County Permits).

In Auburn, the city's Community Development Department decides whether a project needs a permit, and plumbing systems, including water heaters, are on its list of common permits. A contracted firm does plan reviews and building inspections, and next-day inspection requests are due before 4:30 p.m. (City of Auburn Building Inspections). The Town of Carl has its own plumbing permit application (Town of Carl).

Before digging, Georgia 811 asks everyone to request a locate ticket at least three business days ahead (Georgia 811), and the state dig law requires one before excavating with mechanized equipment. Under that law, the sewer owner helps locate laterals only up to the edge of the public right-of-way (Georgia Dig Law). For repair choices, see sewer line repair options.

Grease, wipes and rainwater

Barrow's standards say stormwater facilities may never be connected to the county water and sewer systems (Standards and Specifications, Section 1.06), so downspouts and yard drains belong away from your sewer line. Grease, wipes and other household items are covered in what not to flush or pour, and rain-related backups in why drains back up when it rains.

Septic homes in this area

Barrow County Environmental Health, part of the state's Northeast Health District, has its office at 63 Lee Street in Winder (Northeast Health District). The county permits page sends septic-location questions there and requires the office's approval letter before a residential building permit is issued for a home on septic (Barrow County Permits).

In Carl, the town's development code requires a lot with a septic tank to meet the larger of the state and county health department minimums or the town's own, with the system's site approved by the county health department (Town of Carl development code). For upkeep, see septic tank pumping in Georgia.

Cities and communities served

Auburn is the one place on this area's list that the Wastewater Division names; it also serves Statham and parts of Winder. Carl's sewer provider couldn't be confirmed, so ask the town; the local directory lists both places.

Next step

Find your service cleanout near the right-of-way line, then ask the Wastewater Division, or in Auburn the city, whether the pipe between that cleanout and the main is county-maintained at your address.