Request an estimate
Tell us what is happening and how to reach you.
Details that help explain the problem
Include when the issue started, which fixtures are affected, whether sewage is present, whether the line has been cleaned before, and whether you have camera footage.
This form is for estimate requests. It is not an emergency dispatch service or a city utility contact form.
When to treat a sewer problem as urgent
If sewage is coming up through a basement floor drain, shower, tub, or toilet, stop using water in the home and get help quickly. Do not run laundry, dishwashers, showers, or extra toilet flushes until the blockage is understood.
If one sink or toilet is slow, it may be a fixture or branch drain. If several fixtures are slow, the lowest drain backs up first, or sewage appears at a basement fixture, the main sewer line is more likely involved.
What a repair estimate should explain
A sewer repair estimate should identify the camera evidence, defect location, pipe material, recommended method, and why that method fits the line’s condition.
A major estimate should state the access points, footage, depth, restoration, permits, warranty, exclusions, and conditions that could change the price.
Local notes for Paterson, NJ
Paterson content should distinguish emergency backup symptoms from routine drain cleaning and avoid pretending to be a local plumber.
Paterson Public Works includes a Sewer division and links residents to New Jersey's combined-sewer-overflow notification system. A city sewer page does not, by itself, determine who must pay for a specific private lateral repair.
Check the public source block below for current local responsibility, permit, and utility details before approving work.
Public source notes
These city, utility, permit, and public-works sources support this Paterson guide. They do not decide responsibility for a specific property or replace a licensed inspection.
Sources last checked: 2026-07-29.
- Sewer | City of Paterson Public Works
The city's Public Works department lists a Sewer division and links to New Jersey's combined-sewer-overflow notification resource.
- Public Works | City of Paterson
Paterson says Public Works manages, maintains, and operates city physical property and oversees engineering and public-works improvements. The page does not assign responsibility for a particular home's private lateral.
- Sewer Billing | City of Paterson Finance
The city maintains a separate Sewer Billing division. Billing administration is not evidence that the city is responsible for a private repair quote.
Guidance reviewed: 2026-08-08. Read our editorial method and corrections policy.