# Sewer Line Tap Installation and Replacement in Denver

Sewer line tap installation and replacement covers first-time connections to a sanitary main and the full re-excavation of a tap that has failed beyond repair. Denver Sewer and Water performs both under the wastewater authority's approval, from locating the main through final backfill.

- First-time sewer taps for new construction and septic conversions.
- Full tap replacement when the existing connection has failed.
- Locating and grade verification before design.
- Shoring and safe excavation at sewer main depth.
- Inspection coordinated with the wastewater authority.

## Installation or Replacement, What's the Difference in Practice?

Installation applies where no sewer connection currently exists: new construction, a septic-to-sewer conversion, or a service being split so each unit gets its own tap. The main constraint is confirming there is enough fall from the building to the main before committing to a design, since the tap location and depth follow from that grade check.

Replacement applies where a connection exists but has failed at or near the main itself, often found during a camera inspection when a backup or leak traces back to the tap rather than to the service line further out. That failure point is usually not repairable from inside the pipe and has to be re-excavated and reconnected.

- Camera inspection shows the failure right at the main connection.
- Repeated backups traced to the tap despite a clear service line.
- Visible settling or a depression directly over the connection point.
- An old connection type the authority no longer approves for continued use.
- A shared tap that needs to be split into separate service connections.

## How Installation and Replacement Projects Run

1. **Locate the main and verify main size and material** Depth, diameter, and pipe material at the main are confirmed before design work starts.
2. **Coordinate with the wastewater authority having jurisdiction** Connection type, location, and permit requirements are confirmed with the authority before excavation.
3. **Right-of-way and traffic control permitting** Street cut and traffic control permits are secured where the tap sits in a public right of way.
4. **Potholing and utility locates** Other buried utilities are located and the connection area is exposed carefully.
5. **Tap and set thrust restraint** The connection is made to the approved detail with proper restraint at the joint before backfill.
6. **Inspection sign-off and surface restoration to spec** The authority inspects the open connection, then we backfill, compact, and restore the surface to the standard required.

## What Drives Tap Installation and Replacement Cost

Depth to the main is the leading factor, along with distance from the building, soil and groundwater conditions, and whether restoration involves lawn, driveway, or street pavement. Replacement projects can add cost where the old connection has to be carefully removed before the new one goes in.

Tap fees and system development charges are set by the wastewater authority with jurisdiction over your address, not by us, and we do not publish those amounts because they vary and change independently of anything we control.

Call (720) 935-6221 to get the scope confirmed before you budget.

## Frequently asked questions

**Does a new sewer tap cost more than a replacement tap?**

It depends on depth and access, not on whether it is new or a replacement. A shallow new tap can cost less than a deep replacement in a busy street, and the reverse is also common.

**Can an old sewer tap connection type still be used?**

Some jurisdictions require older connection types to be upgraded to a current standard when the tap is replaced, even if the failure is unrelated to the connection style. We confirm what the authority currently requires.

**How do I know if I need installation or replacement?**

If there is no existing sewer connection, it is installation. If a connection exists and has failed at the main, it is replacement. A camera inspection of the existing service confirms which situation applies.

**Is grade checked before or after the permit is applied for?**

Before. Confirming there is enough fall from the building to the main comes first, because a grade problem can change the entire design and needs to be solved before an application goes in.

**Does Denver Water handle sewer tap installation?**

No. Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated company. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. The utility or municipality with jurisdiction owns the main, sets fees, and inspects the work. We are the licensed contractor who performs the physical tap.

## Related Sewer Tap Services

- [Sewer Line Tap Connection](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-line-tap-services/sewer-line-tap-connection/denver-co) Making the physical connection between a service line and the sewer main.
- [Sewer Line Tap Repair](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-line-tap-services/sewer-line-tap-repair/denver-co) Repairing a failed, leaking, or root-damaged tap connection.
- [Sewer Line Tap Services](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-lines/sewer-line-tap-services/denver-co) Sewer line taps to the public main, installed and repaired.
- [Sewer Line Scope and Video Inspection](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-lines/sewer-line-scope-video-inspection/denver-co) Camera survey of a sewer line before any tap, repair, or excavation decision.
- [Sewer Lines in Denver](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-lines/denver-co) The full sewer line lane: repair, replacement, trenchless, and inspection.

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Denver Sewer and Water is a privately owned, licensed and insured plumbing contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Denver Water, the municipal water utility, or any government entity. To pay a municipal water bill or reach the public utility, visit denverwater.org.

Source: https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-line-tap-installation-replacement/denver-co