General Sewer Information

What to do in the Event of a Sewer Spill

Please report it Immediately!

Call Ontario Municipal Utilities at (909) 395-2678 Monday - Thursday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm and Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, or if after hours call the Police Department at 911.

Question
What is a sewer lateral?
Answer
The sewer lateral is the pipe that runs between the sewer main in the street and the building on your property.
Question
My plumber says my sewer lateral is broken, and wants a lot of money to fix it. What should I do?
Answer

Before you sign a contract, determine if you are responsible. City staff can assist you in determining whether the problem is located in the public right-of-way. Call Ontario Municipal Utilities at (909) 395-2678 to request assistance. If it is determined that the portion you are responsible for needs repair, get several price quotes before signing a contract. For tips on how to find a licensed contractor, click here. 

Question
How can I get a permit to do work on my property?
Answer

Permits are issued by the Building Department.  For information go to the Building page, visit the Building Department at City Hall (303 E. “B” Street), or call (909) 395-2023.

Question
Are sewers and storm drains the same thing?
Answer
No, sewers and storm drains are not the same thing! Ontario’s sewers transport wastewater from indoor plumbing such as toilets, sinks, washing machines, and floor drains to a wastewater treatment plant where the water is “cleaned up” before being either re-used as recycled water for irrigation and other non-potable uses, or percolated into the groundwater basin, or released to the Santa Ana River. By contrast, the storm drain system simply transports water directly to groundwater percolation basins or to the Santa Ana River without any further treatment.
Question
There are roots in my sewer lateral from a City tree. How can I get this corrected?
Answer
Call Ontario Municipal Utilities at (909) 395-2678 to report the problem.
Question
My plumber said there’s a problem with my sewer lateral, and that the City will fix it. Is this true?
Answer
The City maintains the portion of the lateral that is located in the public right-of-way (e.g. under the sidewalk, in the parkway, or the street.) The portion of the lateral that is located on private property is maintained by the property owner.