Those Darn Party Sewers

I have written about these lovelies before, but want to keep this subject top of mind, or at least not buried below the surface.

Portland's sewer system is old. And much of it was cobbled together over the years.  In the city's close in neighborhoods, not all houses have their own direct connection to the city sewer.  Many houses then, have some sort of joint/cooperative/party line, that heads to the city main.  Many streets have NO sewer main in them, leading sewer connections to join with neighbors to get to a connection on another street.  In the past, the city required, when a line on a party sewer failed, that the "guest" on a party sewer install their own distinct connection.   In the past few years, this requirement became more stringent; requiring that once discovered (even if the party line were in good working order) the guest must install their own line.

It has been suggested that home buyers "scope" sewers as part of home inspections for five to ten years.  As with many new inspections, it can take a few years for such an inspection to become a norm in the marketplace.  "Really", a buyer might ask, "you are suggesting I pay $100 for someone to send a little camera down the sewer?".  Yes, That is what I'm suggesting.  In those early years of sewer scopes, we were only concerned with the functionality of the line, as the party sewer was only an issue when the sewer failed..  And a failed line needed work anyway, so the extra cost of the distinct connection was nominal.

There are many folks out there who bought their homes in the last ten years, diligently paid for a sewer scope, found a good sewer, and yet are in danger of having to pay for a new sewer connection.  There are also lots of folks out there, minding their own business, but who are on a party sewer with a house being sold.  Chances are 50/50 that they'll be the guest and will be required to install a new sewer connection.  Make note, if you are the "host" and yours is the dominant line, you usually are unaffected as it is the guest who is forced to leave the party.

  I had a listing this year where not only was it a party sewer, the required abandonment of the party sewer would effect a total of four dwellings on three different streets!  The City of Portland has proscribed noticing and waiting periods, but inaction is not an option and having no sewer connection is not an option (than goodness).

I had another listing where both the house being sold AND the neighbor were required to install new connections.  My seller clients were quite friendly with their neighbor (this is Portland after all).  The neighbor had been unemployed for two years and was quite financially strapped.  My seller clients were horrified that their move to their dream home would cause such a financial hardship for their friend and neighbor. In this case, my clients worked with a contractor on both sewer connections, thereby getting the lines at a slight discount, and even paid for some of the neighbor's connection...this is Portland, after all.

Also in many of the close-in neighborhoods, the lack of a city main in the street caused some folks to (way back when) pay to have a private line installed in the city right of way.  These connections are also seen to be non-conforming, and the work to make these "proper" can be quite a bit more extensive and expensive.  Many neighborhoods are affected by these issues. 

I have had transactions in Brooklyn, Richmond, Buckman, Sunnyside, Hillside and Arbor Lodge all with party sewer issues.  The Southeast Examiner had a recent article by Reuben Deumling on sewer issues, especially as it affects the Sunnyside neighborhood.  Is your sewer a party sewer?  Are you having hosting a party?  Or merely a guest?