Find the Sewer Lateral Inspection Form Here.

Property Sale Requirement: Sewer Lateral Inspections

The Township has established a requirement, effective January 21, 2026, mandating that private sewer laterals be inspected at the time of property sale or transfer.  This requirement applies to all real estate transactions within the Township and must be satisfied as part of the closing process.

This policy was adopted as part of the Township’s Corrective Action Plan to reduce inflow and infiltration (I/I) within the sanitary sewer system. Excessive I/I can strain system capacity, contribute to sanitary sewer overflows, and increase treatment costs. By requiring inspections at the time of transfer, the Township aims to identify defects, illegal connections, and sources of groundwater or stormwater entry, thereby improving overall system performance and long-term infrastructure reliability.

Inflow and infiltration occur when rainwater or groundwater enters the sanitary sewer system through defects such as cracked or deteriorated laterals, root intrusion, separated joints, improper connections, or open or missing cleanout caps. During storm events, these defects can allow significant volumes of extraneous water to enter the system, contributing to surcharging, backups, and increased treatment costs.

While the Township maintains the public sewer mains, private sewer laterals- from the home to the connection at the public main- are the responsibility of the property owner. Many of these laterals are decades old and have never been inspected, making them a common source of excessive I/I. Missing or uncapped cleanouts create direct openings that allow stormwater, debris, and surface runoff to enter the sanitary sewer system.

Requiring inspections at the time of property transfer ensures that defects are identified and corrected before ownership changes, thereby reducing I/I, protecting system capacity, and supporting long-term infrastructure reliability.

This requirement will be formally communicated to the settlement company handling your transaction once the necessary municipal certifications are requested, which typically occurs in the weeks leading up to closing. At that time, the Township will include all applicable documentation and instructions to ensure the settlement company is fully informed of the requirement and any related compliance obligations. Please note that the Township has previously provided this information to many local title companies, and it is generally a familiar process for those handling transactions within the municipality.

Find the Sewer Lateral Inspection Form Here.