Delaware County Sewer Line Repair — Trenchless Service Across Delco

Advanced Drains and Underground Solutions is Delaware County’s dedicated trenchless sewer contractor. We serve homeowners and property managers from Upper Darby to Media, Havertown to Marcus Hook, providing camera inspection, CIPP lining, pipe bursting, and hydro jetting without tearing up yards or driveways.

Call 1-855-DONT-DIG for same-day response throughout Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Why Delaware County Sewer Lines Fail

Most sewer problems in Delaware County trace back to the age of the housing stock. The postwar building boom that produced the county’s characteristic twin homes, split-levels, and semi-detached rowhomes in communities like Drexel Hill, Springfield, Havertown, and Lansdowne ran from roughly 1945 through the mid-1960s. The sewer laterals installed during that era fall into three main categories, each with its own failure pattern:

• Clay tile pipe — standard through the early 1950s. Sections are short and jointed; tree roots exploit every joint. Clay does not corrode but it does shift, crack, and infiltrate as ground settles over decades.
• Orangeburg pipe — a fibrous bitumen material used between roughly 1945 and 1965 as a lower-cost alternative. It softens and deforms over time, collapsing inward. Once deformed, drain flow drops and backups follow.
• Cast iron — used through the 1970s and corrosion-resistant for many years, but aging cast iron eventually pits, scales, and develops hairline cracks that allow root intrusion and groundwater infiltration.

Shared or party laterals are also common in twins and attached rowhomes. A single lateral may serve two or more units before connecting to the municipal main, meaning one owner’s tree or ground movement can affect neighbors. We inspect party laterals and document shared ownership conditions as part of every camera investigation.

Delaware County’s Sewer System — Who Owns What

In most Delaware County municipalities, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer lateral from the foundation cleanout to the public main at the street or easement. The municipal sewer authority or the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (DELCORA) maintains the mains. Costs for lateral repair or replacement fall to the property owner unless a specific municipal program applies.

This matters when a blockage or backup occurs: the problem is usually in the privately owned lateral, not the public main. A camera inspection establishes the condition and location before any repair decision is made.

Our Trenchless Repair Methods

CIPP Lining (Cured-In-Place Pipe): A felt or fiberglass liner saturated with resin is inserted into the existing damaged pipe. Once positioned, it is inflated and cured using hot water, steam, or UV light depending on pipe diameter and condition. The result is a smooth, jointless liner inside the old pipe. CIPP is particularly effective for clay and Orangeburg laterals where the outer pipe structure still provides form even as the material degrades.

Pipe Bursting: A bursting head is pulled through the existing pipe, fracturing it outward and simultaneously pulling a new HDPE pipe into place. Pipe bursting works well for laterals that are too compromised to support lining and it allows upsizing the pipe diameter at the same time.

Hydro Jetting: High-pressure water scours root mass, grease buildup, and sediment from drain and sewer lines. We use jetting as both a maintenance tool and a pre-liner preparation step. Cleaned lines last longer and are easier to inspect with a camera.

Coverage Across Delaware County

Our crews operate throughout Delaware County from a base in Springfield. We regularly work in Upper Darby, Havertown, Media, Swarthmore, Ridley Park, Drexel Hill, Lansdowne, Norwood, Chester, Marcus Hook, Newtown Square, Broomall, Wayne, and surrounding communities. We respond to sewer emergencies seven days a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my sewer lateral needs repair or full replacement?

A camera inspection gives a definitive answer. If the pipe is deformed (common with Orangeburg), crushed, or has root intrusion at multiple joints, bursting or replacement is usually better than lining. If the pipe shape is intact but cracked or corroded, CIPP lining is often sufficient and costs less.

Will trenchless repair work on my older Delco home?

In most cases, yes. We have lined and burst clay, Orangeburg, and cast iron laterals throughout Delaware County. Access point requirements vary by method. We explain what access is needed and what landscape disruption to expect before work begins.

What is the connection between my sewer and DELCORA?

DELCORA treats wastewater for most of Delaware County. Your private lateral connects to a municipal sewer main, which ultimately routes to DELCORA treatment. Blockages or failures in your lateral do not involve DELCORA — that portion of the system is your responsibility as the property owner.

Schedule a Sewer Camera Inspection

The fastest way to know what is happening in your sewer line is a camera inspection. We record footage, mark the access point location above ground, and give you a written summary of conditions. From there, repair options and costs are documented without vague estimates.

Call 1-855-DONT-DIG or use the contact form to reach Advanced Drains and Underground Solutions. We answer calls seven days a week throughout Delaware County, PA.