Sewer Excavation in Riverdale, GA

Every sewer excavation starts as a line on the ground: paint or flags tracing the building sewer from the house to where it meets the public system. In Riverdale, that line also has to make it onto paper, because the city's permit application asks for a current property survey and a site plan. Done carefully, that drawing is more than a form to fill in. It becomes the working plan for the dig.

What Riverdale asks for

The city's Building and Permitting Division requires permits for plumbing work, and applications are submitted online. Along with the application, the city lists a current property survey, a site plan, the contractor's credentials and a property owner's affidavit. Gathering these early keeps the permit from becoming the slowest part of the job.

Finding a survey

Many owners already have one tucked into their closing papers. A plat recorded with the county can also show lot lines and easements, though it is not the same as a survey of the house as it stands. If neither turns up, or the one you have predates an addition or a new driveway, ask the city what it will accept before ordering a new survey.

Drawing the sewer route on it

The site plan for a sewer dig is mostly about where the trench will go and what it will cross. Start with the point where the building sewer leaves the house, usually near the outdoor cleanout. A sewer camera inspection with a locator traces the path from there and gives depth readings along the way. On the plan, show:

• The route of the line and the section to be dug, with its approximate length.
• Where the line meets the public sewer, whether at the street or along an easement.
• Driveways, walks, fences, trees and other features the trench will cross or pass.
• Other buried utilities once Georgia 811 has marked them.
• Where soil will be piled and how equipment will reach the work.

Easements and lot lines

The public main does not always run under the street in front. On some lots it sits in an easement along a side or back property line, and the building sewer runs that way instead. A survey that shows easements helps here, because work near the public line can bring in the utility, and a trench close to a lot line may need a neighbor's cooperation for access or a fence panel. Knowing that before the estimate is signed avoids surprises on dig day.

When the plan changes after digging starts

Ground does not always match the drawing. The old pipe may turn where nobody expected, or the camera may have missed a second break. Small changes get noted and discussed; a larger change in scope deserves a revised plan and a clear agreement before work continues. If the line fails outright partway through, the emergency provisions in the city code come into play. Where the old pipe is sound enough to line, a trenchless repair may shrink the trench on the plan considerably.

Site plan and permit questions in Riverdale

How exact does the sewer route on the plan need to be?

Exact enough that the trench goes where the drawing says. Distances measured from fixed points such as house corners, plus depth readings from the locator at a few spots, are usually plenty. Hand-drawn is fine if it is to a rough scale and clearly labeled, and the same sketch then serves the permit application and the crew on dig day.

Do I need a permit to have my main line cleared in Riverdale?

Not under the city's code, which does not require a permit to clear stoppages or fix leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures. Replacing a defective drain or waste pipe with new material is different: the code treats that as new work needing a permit and an inspection. A sewer excavation to replace pipe falls on the permit side.

What if the repair cannot wait for the permit?

Then the application can follow the work closely: for an emergency repair or replacement, Riverdale wants it in the building official's hands within the next working day. Get the line cleared if possible, document the failure with photos or footage, and make sure the application goes in on time. The inspection still applies to the finished work.

Start with a plan

Mapping the line comes before the paperwork. For help tracing the route and laying out the dig at your Riverdale property, call (404) 409-4448 and speak with Alpha Plumbing and Sewer.