Smyrna Sewer and Drain Guide for Homeowners

Who provides sewer service here

The City of Smyrna's Water and Sewer Division has 21 employees who maintain 250 miles of water lines and 140 miles of sewer lines. They handle emergency and routine line repairs, install water and sewer taps, run the lift stations and replace older lines, and they camera-inspect and clean sewer lines as preventive work (Smyrna Water and Sewer).

The city says it provides water, sewer and sanitation service "in certain areas of the city." Its residential application starts water, sewer and sanitation together for addresses in its service area, or water and sanitation only for a home on a septic tank (Smyrna service applications). City code names the other provider: for larger developments it accepts a letter on water and sewer availability from either the city's public works director or the county water system (Smyrna Code § 1502.9).

So check who bills you. A City of Smyrna utility bill means this page applies; a Cobb County Water System bill means the Cobb County page does.

Where your responsibility ends

Smyrna's sewer backup page compares the private sewer lateral to a furnace or a roof: the owner maintains and replaces it. The lateral runs from the home's plumbing to the point of connection with the city system in the right-of-way, and the city says owners are responsible for the entire lateral, including that connection point. The city maintains the sewer main (Smyrna Sewer Backups).

There is one practical twist. Because the city's own utilities and other providers' lines share the right-of-way, Smyrna says the city will make all repairs within the right-of-way itself (same page). The page doesn't say who pays for that work, so ask Public Works before any digging near the street.

City code says much the same: owners build and maintain the service line from the building to the point of connection with the city service lateral, and pumps or other devices that move sewage to the city system are the owner's to repair (Smyrna Code § 102-44). A home whose drains sit too low for gravity flow must pump its sewage, and that pump is the owner's sole responsibility (Smyrna Code § 102-50). Who is responsible for the sewer line puts Smyrna's rule next to other Georgia providers'.

If sewage backs up

Smyrna tells residents to call the Public Works Department when a sewer line backs up, with a separate number after hours, and says an emergency crew will be dispatched (Smyrna Sewer Backups). You can also report a backup online through Smyrna 311 from the city's sewer backup report page, which tells you to dial 911 in an emergency (Smyrna report page).

The backup page also warns that a city or county generally isn't liable for damage when a sewer backs up, and it urges homeowners to look at adding sewer backup coverage to their insurance (Smyrna Sewer Backups). That is the city's view, not legal or insurance advice for your situation; an insurer or attorney can tell you where you stand. For what that coverage does and doesn't include, see sewer backup insurance in Georgia; for cleanup safety, see what to do in a sewer backup.

Repairs, permits and inspections

Smyrna's Community Development Department accepts every permit application through its online portal; in-person submittals are no longer accepted. A homeowner may pull a permit only for a property that is their current permanent residence and listed in their legal name, and a landlord may not do the work on a rental home unless they are a Georgia-licensed contractor. Inspections are scheduled in the portal, and requests received by 4 p.m. are set for the next business day (Smyrna Building Division).

Tapping into a city water or sewer line without a permit and a final inspection of the tap is unlawful (Smyrna Code § 102-2). When a building sewer is ready, the connection and testing must be done in the presence of the city's department director or a representative (Smyrna Code § 102-53).

If a repair means digging near the street, file a free Georgia 811 locate request at least three business days ahead, as Georgia 811 asks; state law makes the request mandatory before digging with mechanized equipment (Georgia 811; Georgia dig law). Under that law, Smyrna helps mark a lateral only as far as the edge of the public right-of-way.

Grease, wipes and rainwater

Smyrna's code bars connecting roof downspouts, foundation drains or any other source of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer that drains to the city system, unless the connection is approved under a discharge permit (Smyrna Code § 102-52). Every user of the city system must also keep infiltration and inflow down as far as reasonably possible, starting with watertight pipe in the private parts of the sewer (Smyrna Code § 102-44(f)). Grease, wipes and other household habits are covered in what not to flush or pour.

Septic homes in this area

City code allows septic tanks on residential lots of at least 80,000 square feet with county health department approval, and a home already on septic before sewer became available may stay on it while the system works properly (Smyrna Code § 102-44(c)). In Cobb County, septic matters go to the environmental health division of Cobb & Douglas Public Health, which notes that the owner, not a utility, maintains a septic system (Cobb & Douglas Public Health).

Claims and reimbursement

Smyrna publishes a cost-sharing program for backwater valves rather than a claims process. It defines a susceptible location as any building with a plumbing fixture, such as a floor drain, toilet, shower drain or washing machine drain, lower than the lowest manhole lid near the building. For property owners in those at-risk locations, the city reimburses plumbing fees actually paid for installing a backwater valve, up to a cap stated on its page (Smyrna Sewer Backups). The steps are:

1. Write to the Public Works Department before the valve is installed, so the city can decide whether the location needs one.
2. Hire a plumbing contractor to install it; the contractor handles the city permit and inspection.
3. After installation, permitting and inspection are complete, send proof of the paid invoice for reimbursement.

The same page notes that the plumbing codes require backwater protection for fixtures below the overflow point of the sewer main. Backwater valves explained covers how they work and what maintenance they need.

Cities and communities served

Smyrna's Water and Sewer Division serves part of the City of Smyrna. Addresses outside its service area are on another provider, which city code identifies as the county water system.

Next step

If your home has a basement bathroom, floor drain or laundry drain below the nearest manhole lid, write to Smyrna Public Works about the backwater valve program before you hire a plumber. The city has to receive the request before the valve goes in.