Sewer line repair in Northern Liberties

Northern Liberties homes and their sewer lines

Northern Liberties was one of the ten largest cities in the United States from about 1790 to 1840, before it became part of Philadelphia. It was full of mills, breweries and tanneries. Today old rows sit next to converted industrial buildings and many new townhouses.

The neighborhood also sits on top of a lost stream. Cohocksink Creek was covered and turned into a sewer in the mid-to-late 1800s. It now runs under Canal, Laurel, Bodine, Cambridge and Orkney Streets and drains more than 1,000 acres. Because the old brick arch sewers flooded in heavy storms, PWD began the roughly $43.5 million Cohocksink Storm Flood Relief project in 2010. The project added box sewers next to the old ones to double capacity in Northern Liberties and South Kensington.

Common sewer problems we hear about in Northern Liberties

• Old laterals connecting to 19th-century brick sewers
• Rain-related basement backups. PWD names Northern Liberties among the low-lying areas most affected.
• New townhouses built next to old rows, where excavation and new connections can disturb neighboring laterals
• Condo and loft conversions where a single building connection serves many units

What to know before you fix it

New construction in Northern Liberties needs PWD sewer connection review and permits, and the plumber has to tie into whatever main is in the street. If you own a unit in a converted building, the building connection is usually a shared or association responsibility, so check your condo documents before you hire anyone. For a single-family row, the lateral from the house to the main is yours. See who is responsible for what.

The rules are the same citywide

In every Philadelphia neighborhood, the owner is responsible for the house drain, curb trap, lateral and the connection to the sewer. A licensed plumber must do the work, and PWD can issue a Notice of Defect with a deadline to fix it. Eligible owners can spread the cost over 60 months at zero interest with the HELP loan. Read the PWD & HELP guide · See typical costs · Problems in older Philly homes

Services in Northern Liberties

• Sewer line replacement
• Trenchless sewer repair
• Sewer camera inspection
• Sewer backup & emergencies
• Lateral, curb trap & main line issues

Nearby: Fishtown · Kensington · All neighborhoods

We are a free referral service, not a plumber. We connect you with an independent, licensed Philadelphia plumber who quotes and does the work.