Scottsdale Water operates the city's wastewater system across most of Scottsdale, while the building sewer from your home to the main is private plumbing. A camera inspection gives you video of that pipe so roots, breaks, sags or buildup can be pinpointed before anyone digs. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale at a glance
Scottsdale's wastewater service area largely matches the city boundary, with treatment at the Water Campus Water Reclamation Facility and capacity at the regional 91st Avenue plant. There are exceptions. Some parts of the city are unsewered and rely on private onsite wastewater systems, and a small area on the east side near Cactus Road sends wastewater to Fountain Hills Sanitary District facilities. Census-based figures put the median Scottsdale home at about 1990, so drain lines range from older materials in the south to plastic in newer northern neighborhoods.
What to do now
- Stop using water if any drain is backing up, especially laundry and showers.
- Check whether neighbors have the same trouble. If they do, or a manhole is overflowing, call Scottsdale Water at 480-312-5650.
- Find your exterior cleanout and clear access to it.
- Write down which fixtures were affected first and when the line was last cleaned.
- Call for a plumber to open the line and film it.
Symptoms and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Tub or shower fills when a toilet flushes | Blockage in the building sewer past the bathroom branches |
| Clogs return within weeks of a cleaning | Roots, a sag or a rough joint catching debris |
| Sewer odor outside near the slab | Cracked pipe or a loose cleanout cap |
| Wet or sunken spot along the line | A break leaking into the soil |
| Slow drains in a home not on sewer | Trouble in the line to the onsite system or the system itself |
What shapes the cost
- A reachable cleanout versus entering through a toilet or roof vent
- Clearing a full line before the lens can see anything
- Long runs on larger lots or homes set far back from the street
- Marking the defect location and depth from above
- A saved recording to share with other contractors
Expect the plumber to talk through the video with you on site and point out anything worth watching rather than fixing right away. If the footage leads to a repair, plumbing permits go through the City of Scottsdale Planning and Development Services One Stop Shop, and the plumber doing the work normally handles that application. Keep the recording with your house records either way.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Scottsdale
My home isn't on municipal sewer. Can a camera still help?
Who do I call if sewage is coming out of a manhole or into the street?
How do I find out who handles sewer service at my address?
Can the camera see grease or wipes building up in the line?
More plumbing services in Scottsdale
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