College Park Sewer and Drain Guide for Homeowners

Who provides sewer service here

The Water and Sewer Division of College Park's Public Works Department operates and maintains the city's water distribution and wastewater collection systems, provides water meters, fire hydrants and water and sewer taps, and runs the city's wells, pumping stations and sanitary sewer lift station (Water & Sewer). The city's code also defines two sewerage districts: Morning Creek, covering part of the Fulton County side, and Clayton/Camp Creek, covering part of the city in Clayton County (§§ 10-51, 10-52).

Sewer is billed by the city. The Customer Service Department opens new utility accounts and offers a detailed billing format, with itemized charges, usage history and rate details, through its online portal (Customer Service). City code generally lets a property send to the city sewer only water the city itself delivered, unless it comes from a well on the property or the city has a written agreement with the other water supplier (§ 10-60).

Where your responsibility ends

College Park's code puts all costs of installing and connecting the building sewer on the owner, who must also indemnify the city against any loss the installation causes (§ 10-67). Other connection rules in the same article (Article IV):

• Where there is a sewer in the street, each building needs its own drainage system and its own sewer connection; a rear building on an interior lot may share the front building's line only with the plumbing inspector's permission (§ 10-66).
• An old building sewer may serve a new building only after the city examines and tests it (§ 10-69).
• A building drain too low for gravity flow must be pumped up to the building sewer (§ 10-71).

The city's pages don't publish where its maintenance ends on an existing service line. Because the Water and Sewer Division makes the sewer taps, ask it before you pay anyone to dig near the street. For how other Georgia providers split the line, see who is responsible for the sewer line.

If sewage backs up

On weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., report problems to the Water and Sewer Division office. After office hours, on weekends and on holidays, the city sends reports to the Public Works Department office or its emergency dispatch line (Water & Sewer). Both numbers are on the Water & Sewer page; save them before you need them. The sewer backup guide covers safety and cleanup inside the house, and main sewer line clog signs helps you judge whether the problem is beyond one drain.

Repairs, permits and inspections

The Department of Building and Inspections issues building, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, roofing and sign permits, using the SagesGov system for online permitting, plan review and inspections (Building & Inspections). Under the city's plumbing code, the building official is in direct charge of all plumbing work in the city, a permit is required before installing, altering or repairing a plumbing system, and permitted work is inspected by the building official or authorized representatives (plumbing code). The code also opts out of the state-law provision that lets master plumbers or utility contractors self-inspect water and sewer projects (§ 5-127), so expect a city inspection.

Connecting to or disturbing a public sewer needs a separate written permit from the city's director, with a permit and inspection fee, and the connection is made under the director's supervision once the building sewer is ready (§§ 10-63, 10-64). Excavations must be barricaded and lit, and streets and sidewalks disturbed by the work restored to the city's satisfaction (§ 10-68).

Georgia 811 asks for a free locate request at least three business days before any digging, and state law requires one before digging with powered equipment (Georgia 811; law).

Grease, wipes and rainwater

College Park's code sends stormwater and other unpolluted drainage to storm sewers or approved natural outlets, specifically prohibits connecting roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains or areaway drains to the sanitary sewer, and bars discharging stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage into any sewer except limited storm runoff the director permits (§ 10-80). The Public Works Department adds that only stormwater belongs in storm drains and takes reports of illicit discharges (Public Works).

Grease interceptors are required where the city's director finds them necessary, but not for detached single-family homes (§ 10-84). For household habits that keep grease and wipes out of your own line, see what not to flush or pour.

Septic homes in this area

City code allows a septic tank only where sewer connection isn't available, and then only of a type approved by the state Department of Natural Resources; no building permit may be issued for a septic connection without the governing body's approval (§ 10-60). Private systems not approved by the county board of health must be abandoned, and the home connected within 90 days of official notice, when a serviceable sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.

Septic records and permits are kept by the county environmental health office, and Georgia's Department of Public Health lists separate offices for Fulton and Clayton counties (DPH office list). One of the Fulton County Board of Health's environmental health locations is the College Park Regional Health Center (Board of Health). See septic or sewer: how to tell.

Cities and communities served

This page covers homes inside College Park, in both Fulton and Clayton counties. Neighboring East Point and Hapeville run their own systems.

Next step

Copy the Water and Sewer Division's weekday number and the Public Works after-hours numbers from the city's Water & Sewer page into your phone, so you can reach the right office the moment a drain backs up.