Winder, GA Sewer Line and Drain Guide for Homeowners

Who provides sewer service here

The City of Winder offers water, gas and sewer service, and its Customer Center on East Athens Street sets up utility accounts (Winder Utilities). The city contracts with a private operator to run both its wastewater plants and its collection system; the wastewater office on Creekside Drive is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and questions about the system go to the Winder Utilities Department (Wastewater).

A ridgeline splits the city, so it has two plants. The Cedar Creek plant, finished in 2008 and able to treat 4 million gallons a day, serves the area north of the Seaboard railroad line, and the enclosed Marburg Creek plant, finished in 2000 with 1.5 million gallons a day of capacity, serves the area to the south. Together the system has more than 5,100 connections and more than 95 miles of sewer main (Wastewater System).

Barrow County's Wastewater Department lists parts of the City of Winder among the areas it serves and holds a pre-purchased share of capacity at Winder's Cedar Creek plant (Barrow County Wastewater Division). Check which government bills your sewer; county customers should use the Barrow County page.

Where your responsibility ends

Winder's sewer ordinance forbids unauthorized people to uncover, connect to, use or alter a public sewer, and it sets up a building sewer permit for homes and businesses. The owner applies on a city form, pays the permit, inspection and tap charges, and builds the building sewer to the building and plumbing codes; an existing building sewer may serve a new building only after the utilities director examines and tests it (Winder code, Sec. 23-20).

Every building needs its own building sewer. Where a rear building on an interior lot is allowed to share the front building's line, the city states that it takes no responsibility for damage caused by that single connection (Sec. 23-20(e)).

The ordinance does not say where the city's maintenance begins, whether at the property line, a cleanout or the main. Ask the Utilities Department before paying for work near the street, and see who is responsible for the sewer line for how other Georgia providers draw that line.

If sewage backs up

Winder's wastewater page directs questions, comments and concerns about the system to the Utilities Department by email or phone, and lists weekday office hours (Wastewater). If you are a Barrow County sewer customer instead, the county's wastewater page lists an emergency number for weekends and for weekday hours after 4:30 p.m. (Barrow County Wastewater Division).

Report sewage coming out of a manhole or yard cleanout to the provider that bills you, then deal with the house; what to do in a sewer backup covers the first hour and cleanup safety.

Repairs, permits and inspections

Winder's Planning and Development Department reviews, issues and inspects permits within the city limits, with applications filed through its online citizen portal. Building permits are required for new construction, additions, remodels and mechanical system replacements; a homeowner who does the work must sign the state homeowner affidavit, and the city says the owner must live in the home for at least two years to qualify (Permits & Inspections).

The same page says work must not be covered or continue until it passes the required inspection, and that inspection requests received by 4 p.m. on a business day are scheduled for the next business day. The city's adopted state codes, including the International Plumbing Code, apply in the city and its service area (Permits & Inspections).

For a yard dig, Georgia 811 wants a free ticket at least three business days ahead (Georgia 811); the state law behind it requires the request before mechanized excavation. That law asks sewer owners only to help mark laterals up to the edge of the public right-of-way (Georgia dig law).

Grease, wipes and rainwater

Winder's code bars connecting roof downspouts, foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain tied to the public sewer, unless the utilities director approves it for polluted drainage (Winder code, Sec. 23-20(h)).

The city adopted a fats, oils and grease ordinance as Article IV of Chapter 23 to cut blockages and overflows in its mains, lift stations and reclamation plants (FOG Ordinance). Its permit and grease-trap rules apply to food service establishments, and the definition leaves out private homes unless food is prepared there for sale; the utility's FOG page posts the ordinance and the business application forms (FOG program). Household habits are covered in what not to flush or pour.

Septic homes in this area

Inside the city, owners whose property abuts a street with a public sewer within 100 feet of the property line must connect within 90 days of official notice (Winder code, Sec. 23-16). Where sewer isn't available, a private system is allowed, but an overflowing tank or a drain field seeping to the surface must be fixed promptly by the owner, and if a lasting fix on site isn't practical the city may require a sewer connection within 90 days at the owner's expense (Sec. 23-27).

Barrow County Environmental Health, part of the Northeast Health District, is at 63 Lee Street in Winder and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Northeast Health District). Outside the city limits, Barrow County requires that office's approval letter with any residential building permit for a home on septic (Barrow County Permits). See septic or sewer: how to tell if you aren't sure which you have.

Cities and communities served

Winder is the one place in this directory with City of Winder sewer, and parts of it are on Barrow County's system instead. Nearby Russell and Bethlehem have no confirmed sewer provider; the local directory lists both.

Next step

Pull out your utility bill and see whether the sewer charge comes from the City of Winder or Barrow County, then keep that provider's contact page handy before you ever need it.