Inside town limits, the Town of Herndon's Public Works department maintains the sanitary sewer system and bills for water and sewer. The private lateral from your house to the Town's sewer is plumbing work, and a plumber handles it when it backs up or breaks. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Herndon.
Herndon's sewer setup
Herndon is an incorporated town about 21 miles from Washington, with a historic downtown inside the Dulles Technology Corridor. The Town runs its own sewer system and buys its drinking water from Fairfax Water. For utility questions, the Town's Operations Division is at 703-435-6860. Herndon mailing addresses also cover unincorporated Fairfax County areas outside town limits, such as some neighborhoods south of the Dulles Toll Road. Those homes are generally served by Fairfax County's sewer system, and their permits come from Fairfax County Land Development Services rather than the Town, so check your bill if you're unsure.
Inside town limits, Herndon Building Inspections issues plumbing permits, with applications sent by email. The median home in Herndon was built in 1983. Older houses near the historic downtown are the most likely to have clay or cast iron laterals, while later subdivisions mostly have plastic pipe.
Repair choices side by side
| Approach | Best for | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical cleaning or hydro jetting | Grease, roots or debris in sound pipe | Confirm the pipe's condition with a camera afterward |
| Spot repair | One cracked, offset or separated joint | Requires a pit at the exact location |
| Cured-in-place lining | Cracks and root entry along a pipe with good slope | Won't correct a sag |
| Section replacement | Collapsed or badly bellied pipe | Most excavation and restoration |
Signs to act on
- A basement floor drain that backs up during laundry
- Gurgling toilets when sinks drain
- Sewage smell near the outdoor cleanout
- Slow drains in several rooms at once
Timing and seasons
Lines that are already narrowed by roots or a sag tend to fail when the house is busiest, such as during holiday cooking or when guests are staying over. Heavy summer storms can also expose a cracked line if groundwater seeps in. If sewage is coming up, stop using water and get help right away. If drains are slow but working, a scheduled camera inspection is usually less disruptive than waiting for a full backup. When you call, mention whether you're inside town limits or in the unincorporated area, since that decides which office handles the permit and which utility to contact if the camera shows trouble at the public connection.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Herndon
My mailing address names the town, but I live outside its limits. Who handles my sewer?
Do I need a permit to repair a sewer line here?
Can the sewer line on a newer house still fail?
How can I tell a main line problem from one clogged drain?
More plumbing services in Herndon
Sewer Line Repair nearby
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