Gwinnett County Sewer and Drain Guide for Homeowners

Who provides sewer service here

DWR's sewer system carries wastewater from more than 180,000 homes and businesses through about 3,000 miles of pipe and roughly 200 pump stations to three county treatment plants (DWR wastewater page). The department maintains the sewer mains and the short "service stubs" that connect each main to a customer's own pipe (DWR standard procedure).

Not every Gwinnett address uses this system. The City of Buford runs its own sewer department (see the Buford page), Loganville's city sewer serves areas inside its limits (see the Loganville page), and Auburn's sewer comes through Barrow County (see the Barrow County page). DWR also notes that, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, about 30 percent of Gwinnett residents use septic systems (DWR septic page).

The quickest check is your county water bill. DWR says a sewer-use charge on the bill means you are on the public sewer, while a sewer amount of zero most likely means a septic system (DWR septic page).

Where your responsibility ends

DWR's homeowner page says the private lateral runs to the edge of the right-of-way and that owners maintain the whole lateral, including its connection to the public sewer (Sewer Lateral page). The written procedure is more precise: you maintain all plumbing inside the house and the lateral to the limits of the right-of-way or sewer easement, and if the joint between your 4-inch pipe and the county's 6-inch stub lies outside that line, the joint is yours too (DWR standard procedure).

County standards call for a capped cleanout on the lateral at the right-of-way. DWR maintains that cleanout, while any cleanout closer to the house belongs to the owner (Sewer Lateral page), and county crews can work only through a cleanout in the right-of-way or an easement (DWR standard procedure). The guide to finding your sewer cleanout shows what to look for.

The county code requires every sewer user to keep building sewers and laterals in good repair so groundwater and rainwater stay out, and failure can bring enforcement, including fines. The same section bars permanent structures in county sewer easements and says the county won't replace landscaping it removes to reach its pipes (Gwinnett Code § 106-96).

If your lowest fixture, such as a basement toilet, sits below the next upstream manhole, DWR says Georgia's plumbing code requires a backwater valve that the homeowner maintains, and the county won't pay for backup damage from the main where a required valve is missing (Sewer Lateral page). See backwater valves explained.

If sewage backs up

DWR's dispatch center takes reports of sewer backups, spills and overflowing manholes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and asks residents to call right away (Report a Problem). The procedure treats every report as an emergency and recommends stopping heavy water use, such as the washing machine, dishwasher and showers, until the line is clear (DWR standard procedure). Cleanup and safety steps inside the house are in the sewer backup guide.

Under the same procedure, the investigator:

1. Checks the flow in the manholes upstream and downstream of the property. A blocked main is cleared with a hydrojet, and a camera inspection of the main may follow within a few days.
2. Looks into the right-of-way cleanout. A dry stub with sewage still backing up indoors puts the blockage on the owner's side, and county staff do no further work. A backed-up stub is jetted, or dug up and repaired if jetting fails.
3. If there is no right-of-way cleanout and the cause can't be found another way, installs one at county expense at the owner's request, usually within two to five business days. DWR restores only grass cover and doesn't replace trees, shrubs or landscaping.

DWR says more than 70 percent of reported backups have historically been in the private part of the lateral, most often roots at the joint between the 4-inch and 6-inch pipes. It doesn't recommend plumbers, and plumbers hired by owners may not dig into the right-of-way (DWR standard procedure).

Repairs, permits and inspections

In unincorporated Gwinnett, the Department of Planning and Development issues plumbing and other trade permits and schedules inspections through its online ZIP Portal. A homeowner can get a permit for work on their own property with proof of ownership and a signed property-owner-as-contractor affidavit (Building Services). That includes unincorporated communities such as Mountain Park; each city in the table below runs its own permit office.

Mulberry is a special case. Since January 1, 2025, and pending litigation over the city's charter, the city handles building and trade permits, while the county still provides plan review and inspections for water and sewer work (Planning and Development notice).

Before anyone digs, Georgia 811 asks for a locate ticket at least three business days ahead (Georgia 811), and the state dig law requires one before excavating with mechanized equipment. Under the same law, the sewer utility helps locate laterals only up to the edge of the public right-of-way (Georgia Dig Law). For repair methods and choosing a contractor, see sewer line repair options and how to hire a drain cleaning company.

Grease, wipes and rainwater

DWR says most grease-related overflows happen on residential lines, that a clog on your property is yours to clear, and that a large spill can also bring a fine (DWR grease page). It tells residents to put fats and cooled grease in the trash and notes that a garbage disposal doesn't make grease safe for the drain. Restaurants and other food businesses fall under a separate county grease program.

The county code bans stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff, swimming pool drainage and condensate from the sanitary sewer unless DWR's director authorizes it (Gwinnett Code § 106-126). DWR treats a roof drain tied into a lateral as a source of inflow, uses cameras and smoke testing to find defects, and notifies owners when a test finds one on their property (Sewer Lateral page). Everyday habits are covered in what not to flush or pour.

Septic homes in this area

DWR sends septic owners to the county's environmental health office, which keeps records for systems installed since 1959, and the county's GIS Data Browser may show a septic sketch and past repair permits. Owners who have their tank pumped can earn a 10 percent stormwater utility fee credit each year for five years (DWR septic page). If a public sewer is within 200 feet of the home, the county code requires connection within 90 days of official notice (Gwinnett Code § 106-96). For upkeep, see septic tank pumping in Georgia.

Claims and reimbursement

If your plumber finds that the blockage was entirely in the county-maintained stub, DWR will submit a claim for the plumber's charges on your behalf to the county's Risk Management office, which decides responsibility. DWR staff must see the excavated lateral before it is repaired, so call DWR and allow at least two to three hours for staff to arrive (DWR standard procedure). The procedure lists what a claim needs: the incident address, owner and resident contact details, date and time, a short statement, a description of the damage, copies of bills and any photos.

The procedure also sets limits. A plumber-installed right-of-way cleanout isn't reimbursed unless DWR agreed in advance, payment may be capped at customary local costs, and if the home's lowest finished floor is below the upstream manhole rim, a damage claim must show a working backflow device. This is general information, not legal advice; insurance questions are covered in sewer backup insurance in Georgia.

Cities and communities served

The table lists the places in this area whose public sewer is the county system and who issues plumbing permits in each. Rest Haven's provider couldn't be confirmed; the local directory lists it with the other nearby cities and communities.

Next step

Find your right-of-way cleanout now, near the street or the edge of the yard, and make sure its cap is intact. If your lateral has none, write that down: in a backup, DWR can install one at county expense when it needs one to locate the blockage.