Rockmart Sewer and Drain Guide for Homeowners

Who provides sewer service here

Rockmart's Public Works Department oversees the day-to-day operation of the city's water and sewer collection and distribution lines, along with its streets (Rockmart Public Works). Wastewater goes to the Rockmart Water Pollution Control Plant, completed in 1996, a sequencing batch reactor plant designed to treat an average of 3 million gallons a day (Rockmart Waste Water Treatment Plant).

City water, sewer and garbage service is set up at the Water Department in the Rockmart government complex at 316 North Piedmont Avenue (Rockmart FAQs). Your city utility bill shows whether you pay for sewer as well as water; if it shows water only, ask the city whether your home is on a septic system, covered below.

Where your responsibility ends

Rockmart's code assigns ownership directly. The city owns and maintains the sewer line from the main to the service lateral, and the property owner owns and maintains the service line from the service lateral to the building. All work on that service line must be done by a licensed plumber (Rockmart Code § 22-3(b)). The water side works the same way: the city owns the water line from the main to the curb box, and the owner owns the line from the curb box to the house.

For a new connection, the applicant pays a nonrefundable tapping charge that covers the tapping saddle and service lateral plus a council-set fee for equipment, labor and restoring pavement or right-of-way (same section). The cost of installing and connecting the building sewer itself is also the owner's (Rockmart Code § 22-65).

The code doesn't spell out where on the ground the city's service lateral stops, so ask Public Works to show you on your lot before any digging. Who is responsible for the sewer line compares Rockmart's split with other Georgia utilities. This page is general information, not legal advice; Rockmart Public Works can apply the code to your lot.

If sewage backs up

Because Public Works runs the collection lines, report sewage coming out of a manhole or into a street to the city through its Report a Problem page or the main office, which is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Rockmart Report a Problem; Rockmart FAQs). If only your house is affected and the clog is in your service line, that line is yours under city code, and work on it must be done by a licensed plumber.

Inside the house, what to do in a sewer backup lists the safe first steps, and sewer backup insurance in Georgia explains coverage.

Repairs, permits and inspections

Rockmart's Building Official reviews permit applications, and every contractor must file a regulatory application with the city before working inside the city limits (Rockmart Building Permits).

Sewer work adds several rules. A written city permit is required to uncover, connect to or alter a public sewer; a building sewer trench may not be backfilled until the work has been inspected and approved; and the applicant must notify the superintendent when the building sewer is ready, so the connection and testing can be done under city supervision (Rockmart Code § 22-65). For choosing a licensed plumber, see how to hire a drain cleaning company in Georgia.

Any excavation to reach the service lateral starts with Georgia 811, which asks for a free locate request at least three business days ahead; state law requires one before digging with mechanized equipment (Georgia 811; Georgia dig law). The city's part in locating, under that law, stops at the edge of the public right-of-way.

Grease, wipes and rainwater

Rockmart's code forbids sending stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage or cooling water into any sanitary sewer, and it forbids sending sewage into a storm sewer. Connecting roof downspouts, foundation drains or areaway drains to a building sewer is also banned unless the connection is approved for polluted surface drainage (Rockmart Code §§ 22-65, 22-66). Kitchen grease and wipes are covered in what not to flush or pour.

Septic homes in this area

Inside Rockmart, owners on a street with a public sanitary sewer within 200 feet of the property line must connect within 30 days of official notice. Where no sewer is available, a septic system approved by the health officer may be used; a septic tank may not be built, repaired, altered or enlarged without the health officer's permit; and when sewer later becomes available, the home must connect within 30 days of notice and the old tank must be cleaned out and filled. Until then, the owner runs the septic system at no expense to the city (Rockmart Code §§ 22-63, 22-64).

For Rockmart homes on septic, the county office is Polk County Environmental Health, one of Northwest Georgia Public Health's county environmental health offices (NW Georgia Public Health offices). The district says an existing septic system is evaluated before loan closings, swimming pools and home additions, and it posts the application for septic repairs and modifications (NW Georgia Public Health).

Cities and communities served

Rockmart's sewer serves the sewered parts of the city; homes beyond the reach of a public sewer stay on septic under the rules above, so the table marks Rockmart as partly served.

Next step

Before you hire a plumber for a line that keeps clogging, ask Rockmart Public Works where the city's service lateral ends at your address. Anything from that point to the main is the city's to maintain under city code.