Villa Rica Sewer and Drain Guide for Homeowners

Who provides sewer service here

The City of Villa Rica Utilities Department provides drinking water, reclaimed water and wastewater service. Its work includes treating wastewater to produce reclaimed water for irrigation, repairing and maintaining water lines and sewer force and gravity mains, and maintaining the lift stations that move wastewater to the treatment plant (Utilities Department). Within it, the Distribution & Collection Division handles routine and emergency maintenance of the collection system, inspects, cleans and repairs sewer trunk lines, installs and repairs water and sewer service connections, locates underground lines and inspects new and repaired service lines (Distribution & Collection).

Sewer charges come on the city utility bill. The Customer Service Department runs utility billing for water, sewer and sanitation, and new service requires proof of ownership or a lease (Customer Service). City code leaves it to the city to define where sewer is available and what a connection costs (§ 26-153), and the city won't approve a building permit for new homes without a statement from the Utilities Director that adequate utility service is available (Utilities Department).

Carroll County's 2023 comprehensive plan lists Villa Rica among the places in the county with centralized sewer and says the city will need more wastewater capacity to serve projected growth (county plan).

Where your responsibility ends

Villa Rica's code calls the pipe from your building drain to the public sewer the building sewer, also known as the house connection or service connection (§ 26-67). The owner bears all costs of installing and connecting it and must indemnify the city against any loss the installation causes (§ 26-145).

Other rules in the same article affect existing homes (Article III):

• Every building needs its own building sewer; a rear building on an interior lot may share the front building's line only when no other route exists, and the city accepts no responsibility for damage from that shared connection (§ 26-146).
• An old building sewer may serve a new building only after the superintendent examines and tests it (§ 26-147).
• If your building drain or building sewer lets groundwater or rainwater in, the city may require you to repair it, charge a sewer rate that covers the extra treatment cost, or require you to disconnect (§ 26-155).

Only people the city specifically authorizes may build the sewer service connection itself (service application). Because the Distribution & Collection Division installs and repairs service connections but the city doesn't publish exactly where its part ends, ask the Utilities Department before paying anyone to dig near the street. The sewer line responsibility guide shows how other Georgia providers split the line.

If sewage backs up

The Distribution & Collection Division provides emergency as well as routine maintenance on the collection system, and its page links an online form for reporting a complaint or concern about a collection sewer line (Distribution & Collection). For a backup in progress, contact the Utilities Department directly rather than waiting on a form. The sewer backup guide covers what to do inside the house, and main sewer line clog signs helps you judge whether the problem is in the main line.

Repairs, permits and inspections

The city's Building Development Department, part of Development Services, issues permits; they're required for all new structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or gas work, and repair work, additions and remodeling usually need one too (Building Development; Building Inspections). Homeowners acting as their own general contractor on their primary residence can sign an affidavit and be issued permits in their own name; otherwise permits go only to Georgia-licensed contractors, and inspections must be called in before 4:00 p.m. the day before. The plumbing permit packet asks contractors for copies of their state occupational tax license, contractor's license and driver's license (plumbing permit packet).

Touching the public sewer takes a separate written permit from the city, with a permit and inspection fee, and the connection must be made and tested under the superintendent's supervision; excavations must be guarded and any disturbed street or sidewalk restored (§§ 26-143 to 26-152). Georgia 811 asks for a free locate request at least three business days before digging, and state law requires one before digging with powered equipment (Georgia 811; law).

Grease, wipes and rainwater

Villa Rica's fats, oils and grease policy is aimed at kitchens that cook for the public. Every food service establishment connected to the city's sewer must have a grease trap or interceptor serviced by a state-licensed hauler, the city may require one from any user whose wastewater carries more than 100 mg/L of grease, and mechanically operated grease traps are banned (FOG policy). For household habits, see what not to flush or pour.

Clean water stays out of the sanitary sewer. No one may connect roof downspouts, foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or drain that leads to the public sewer (§ 26-150), and the code separately bans discharging stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage to any sanitary sewer (§ 26-179).

Septic homes in this area

Septic tanks are allowed in Villa Rica only where no sewer is available, with the health officer's approval (§ 26-81). An owner whose property abuts a street with a public sewer within 100 feet of the property line must connect within 30 days of official notice (§ 26-81), and when sewer reaches a home on septic, the tank must be cleaned and filled after connection (§ 26-113).

Which health office handles your septic system depends on the county. On the Carroll side, Carroll County Environmental Health, at 423 College Street in Carrollton, posts the residential septic permit and repair applications (District 4). On the Douglas side, Cobb & Douglas Public Health requires a letter from the local water and sewer provider stating that sewer isn't available before it issues a repair permit, and its checklist names the City of Villa Rica as one of those providers (repair requirements). See septic or sewer: how to tell.

Cities and communities served

This page covers homes inside the City of Villa Rica in both counties. Unincorporated Douglas County areas nearby, such as Fairplay, are covered on the Douglas County page, and Carrollton has its own page.

Next step

Before any work on your sewer line, call the Utilities Department: only people the city authorizes may build the sewer connection, and the connection has to be made and tested under city supervision.