When a sewer backup cannot wait
Raw sewage in a tub, shower or floor drain is a health hazard and a sign that the line is blocked or broken somewhere below the house. Call (855) 575-2890. We take emergency calls 24/7, and the steps below limit damage while you wait.
- Stop all water use, including toilets, washers, dishwashers and showers.
- Keep everyone out of the affected room and wear gloves if you must enter.
- Do not pour chemicals into the drains. They will not fix a broken pipe.
- Turn off power to any circuit that serves a flooded area only if you can reach the panel dry. Otherwise stay away.
- Take photos of any damage for insurance before you clean up.
Sewage backing up now?
Call (855) 575-2890. We answer 24/7.
Who owns what: your lateral, the Town and Pima County
The pipe from your house to the public main is called the lateral, and the homeowner maintains it. The Town of Marana is responsible for sewer mains in Town rights of way and easements. That boundary decides who pays and who you call.
Marana Water Reclamation serves Saguaro Bloom and North Marana. Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation (RWRD) serves Continental Reserve, Hartman Vistas and Cortaro, and its number is (520) 724-6609. If the main in the street is the problem, the utility handles it. If the break is on your side, it is your repair.
A quick test helps. When neighbors on your street also have backups, suspect the main and call the utility. When only your house is affected, the lateral is the likelier cause.
Signs the sewer line has failed, not just clogged
A plain clog clears. A failed line keeps returning no matter how it is cleaned.
Repeated backups
The tub or floor drain backs up again after every cleaning, usually because of a break or root entry.
Soggy or sunken yard
A wet patch or a dip over the line path may mean a leak or a collapsed section.
Sewer smell outdoors
Odor near the cleanout or along the yard can point to a leaking joint.
Slow drains in the whole house
When every fixture slows down together, the main may be restricted or partly collapsed.
Cable stops at the same spot
A snake that cannot pass one point suggests a break, offset or heavy intrusion at that distance.
How we find the failure before anyone digs
We start with a camera run through the cleanout. It shows cracks, offset joints, bellies where water pools, root intrusion and a collapsed section, with the distance to each. That turns a guess into a map.
Most newer Marana homes are on slabs, so the line often runs under concrete before it reaches the yard. Hard desert soil can slow digging, which is why finding the exact spot matters before any trench is opened. Our camera inspection page covers what the picture can and cannot show.
Repair options and their trade-offs
The right fix depends on how much of the line is bad, where it is, and what sits above it.
| Option | What it involves | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Dig to the failed section, replace that length | Targets a single break, leaves good pipe alone | Needs excavation, and the rest of an old line may fail later |
| Trenchless lining | A resin liner is cured inside the existing pipe | Little digging, useful under slabs and landscaping | Pipe must be cleaned and be mostly intact, and offsets can limit it |
| Pipe bursting or full replacement | New pipe is pulled through or laid in a trench | A fresh line for its full length | Most disruptive, higher cost, permits and inspection likely |
Whatever the method, the line should be camera checked afterward. Ask which method fits your pipe and why.
Cast iron pipe repair
Cast iron is common in older construction. It corrodes from the inside, builds rough scale that catches debris, and can crack or flake with age. We do not assume what runs beneath your house. A camera confirms the material and the condition.
Repair paths for cast iron include replacing a failed section with modern pipe or lining the old pipe if it is stable enough. A heavily corroded line may be better replaced than patched. Jetting an old cast iron line is risky, so we discuss it first, as covered under hydro jetting.
Septic systems are a different question
If your property is on a septic system, Pima County regulates onsite wastewater, and this is not a public-main issue. Confirm whether your property is on public sewer or septic before you plan any repair, because the answer changes who to call. Residents in Picture Rocks should check this on their records.
Permits, digging and what happens next
Call 811 or visit Arizona811.com at least two working days before anyone digs, so buried lines are marked. It is free and required. Permit rules for sewer work differ between the Town and unincorporated Pima County, so ask Marana Development Services at (520) 382-2600 about your address.
Once the lateral is repaired, a clean line still needs care. Sewer line cleaning on a schedule can keep paper, grease and roots from building up again. Sewer repairs on private property are built to the plumbing code the jurisdiction has adopted, which is the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with local amendments in the Town of Marana, so confirm permit and inspection steps before any digging.
What drives the cost of sewer line repair
Sewer work varies widely, so the number comes after the camera and measurements.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our emergency line is open 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. Call (855) 575-2890 when sewage is backing up.
The homeowner maintains the private lateral from the house to the public main. The Town handles mains in its rights of way and easements, and RWRD covers areas such as Continental Reserve, Hartman Vistas and Cortaro. Confirm your provider and call the utility if neighbors are also backed up.
Often yes. A camera locates the break, and options include spot repair through the slab or trenchless lining. Some situations favor one approach over the other, and we explain the trade-off first.
If backups return soon after cleaning, a snake stops at the same spot, or a camera shows cracks or roots, repair is likely. A line that is simply dirty responds to cleaning.
Pima County regulates onsite wastewater, and a septic system is not a public-main issue. Confirm which applies to your property before planning work.
Hard soil can slow excavation, and summer ground work is tough on crews and materials. Neither changes whether a pipe needs repair, but both can affect the schedule and the method.
Sewer line failing?
Call (855) 575-2890. We answer 24/7 for sewer emergencies in Marana.
Call (855) 575-2890