Nashville's Public Utilities department runs the town sewer and maintains sewer laterals within town, while wastewater is treated at Rocky Mount's Tar River Regional plant. Clogs inside the house are a plumber's job; if the blockage is in the lateral, the Town may be involved. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Nashville.
When you call
You'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Nashville. Describe which drains are slow, whether water is backing up, and if it's happened before. The plumber will work out whether the clog is in a fixture branch, the building drain under the house, or farther out.
Most clogs are cleared with an auger or cable. A main-line blockage is reached from a cleanout if there is one. If the clog turns out to be beyond your property, in a lateral the Town maintains, the plumber can tell you so you can contact Nashville Public Utilities.
Cost depends on
- Where the clog sits and how far the plumber has to reach
- Whether there's a cleanout
- Cable, jetting or camera inspection
- Pipe damage that needs repair
- Calls outside regular hours
Nashville's sewer system
The Town of Nashville maintains 14 sewer lift stations, the mains and outfalls, and the sewer laterals within town. Its wastewater goes to Rocky Mount's Tar River Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. In 2024 the Town received $1.5 million in a state grant round for water and wastewater fixes, and the town manager planned to recommend lining manholes as part of that work.
Because the Town maintains laterals within town, the dividing line matters more here than in many places. A plumber who clears your building drain and finds the blockage beyond your cleanout can tell you it's in the Town's section, which saves you paying for work on a line you don't own.
The housing is mixed. Census survey data puts the median home at 1993, and about 28% were built before 1980. The older homes are concentrated in the Nashville Historic District around Washington Street, with Victorian and Queen Anne houses whose drain lines may be cast iron or clay. Newer homes have plastic pipe, and clogs there usually come from grease, wipes and hair.
Homes outside town limits in the wider 27856 area may not be on the town sewer. A plumber can clear the line from the house to a private system.
Quick checklist
- Stop running water if the lowest drain is backing up
- Find the cleanout if you have one
- Note which fixture slowed first
- Don't pour in chemical drain openers
Drain Cleaning questions in Nashville
How can I tell whether a backup is in my pipes or the public sewer?
What is a sewer cleanout, and why does the plumber ask about it?
Can tree roots get into a drain line?
Why do some drains back up after heavy rain?
More plumbing services in Nashville
Drain Cleaning nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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