# Sewer Line Tap Services for Denver Properties

A sewer line tap connects a property's sewer service to the public sanitary main, and Denver Sewer and Water installs, connects, and repairs those taps across the Denver metro. The wastewater authority with jurisdiction owns the main and approves the connection. We perform the excavation and the physical tap under that approval.

- New sewer tap installation and replacement.
- Tap connection at the main, made to the approved detail.
- Repair of failed, leaking, or root-damaged taps.
- Deep excavation with proper shoring.
- Coordination with the wastewater authority on permitting and inspection.

## When Does a Property Need Sewer Tap Work?

New construction with no existing sanitary service needs a first-time tap. Properties converting from septic to public sewer need the same thing. Beyond new work, taps come up when an existing connection at the main has failed and cannot be repaired in place, when a shared service is being split into separate connections, or when a previously abandoned service is being reconnected.

The tap itself is usually a small part of the visible work and the largest part of the risk. It happens at depth, often in the public right of way, and it has to be inspected by the authority before the trench closes. Getting the connection type wrong or missing the inspection window turns a routine tap into a redo.

- New construction with no existing sanitary connection.
- Converting a property from septic to public sewer.
- A tap at the main that has failed and cannot be repaired in place.
- Splitting one shared service into separate taps.
- Reconnecting a service that was previously abandoned.
- Upsizing a service for added fixtures or a change of use.

## How a Sewer Line Tap Project Runs

1. **Locate the main and verify grade** We confirm main depth, material, and position and check that there is workable fall from the building before anything is designed.
2. **Coordinate with the wastewater authority** The connection type, location, and permit requirements are confirmed with the authority having jurisdiction before excavation.
3. **Right-of-way and traffic control permitting** Where the tap sits in a public street, the required street cut and traffic control permits are secured.
4. **Potholing and utility locates** Other buried utilities are located and the connection point is exposed carefully before the main is opened.
5. **Make the connection and shore the trench** The tap is made to the approved detail with proper shoring, and the service is set to grade.
6. **Inspect, backfill, restore** The authority inspects the open connection, then we backfill in lifts, compact, and restore the surface to spec.

## What Drives Sewer Line Tap Cost

Depth is the biggest driver, because sanitary mains sit lower than most other utilities and depth changes the shoring, the equipment, and the labor. Distance from the building to the main, soil and groundwater conditions, and whether the work falls in a driveway, a street, or open ground all move the number as well.

Tap fees, system development charges, and permit fees are set by the wastewater authority with jurisdiction over your address, not by us. We do not publish fee amounts because they vary by jurisdiction and change on the authority's schedule. We confirm current figures with the authority before work is scheduled.

Call (720) 935-6221 to get the main located and the scope confirmed.

## Frequently asked questions

**Who approves a sewer line tap connection?**

The wastewater authority or sanitation district that owns the sanitary main. They set the approved connection type, issue the permit, and inspect the work before backfill. We perform the physical tap under that approval.

**How deep is a typical sewer tap?**

Deeper than most water taps, because the main has to sit low enough to serve everything above it by gravity. Exact depth is confirmed by locating the main before the project is scoped.

**Can a sewer tap be done without opening a full trench at the main?**

The connection at the main itself is an open excavation. The service run between the building and that connection point can sometimes use less invasive methods depending on distance and soil conditions.

**What if the existing tap has failed?**

A failed tap at the main usually cannot be patched from inside the pipe and needs to be re-excavated and reconnected. We camera the service first to confirm the failure is at the tap and not somewhere else in the run.

**Is a sewer line tap something Denver Water handles?**

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.

## Sewer Tap Services and Related Sewer Line Work

- [Sewer Line Tap Installation and Replacement](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-line-tap-installation-replacement/denver-co) New sewer taps and replacement of a failed tap connection at the main.
- [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 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 Line Excavation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/sewer-lines/sewer-line-excavation/denver-co) Open-trench access for sewer lines that cannot be repaired trenchless.
- [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-lines/sewer-line-tap-services/denver-co