Philadelphia, PA
Sewer and water line repair in Philadelphia: the HELP loan
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
If the Philadelphia Water Department issues a Notice of Defect for your sewer lateral, main drain, curb trap or water service line, its Homeowner's Emergency Loan Program (HELP) can pay for the repair at zero interest, repaid over 60 months. It's also available for replacing a lead water service line. The loan is secured with a lien on the property.
What's different in Philadelphia
HELP is a zero-interest loan for PWD customers who have received a Notice of Defect, or who are replacing a lead water service line. [1]
It covers repair or replacement of the water service line, water supply line, curb trap, main drain and sewer lateral. [1]
The loan is repaid over 60 months; interest applies only on default. [1]
Eligibility requires owning a residential property of no more than four units, not being more than two billing cycles behind, and consenting to a lien for the cost of the work; call (215) 685-4901. [1]
What a Notice of Defect means
PWD issues a Notice of Defect when it finds a problem on the private side, such as a leaking service line or a broken lateral, that the owner must fix. Don't ignore it: the HELP loan is tied to it, and the defect can damage your neighbors' rowhouse foundations as well as yours. A sewer camera inspection shows exactly what PWD found.
Rowhouse plumbing quirks
- Shared walls mean a lateral leak can undermine more than one home.
- Many laterals run under the sidewalk to the street, where repairs need street work.
- Older homes may still have a curb trap, a trap fitting near the curb that HELP also covers.
Using HELP
Get the Notice of Defect
Or confirm a lead service line replacement.
Call PWD
(215) 685-4901 to apply.
Work is done
Through the program; a lien is placed for the cost.
Repay
Over 60 months, interest-free if you don't default.
Further reading: How sewer camera inspections work.
What Philadelphia homeowners usually check next
- SymptomSewer smell in the house
Common questions
What is Philadelphia's HELP loan?
A zero-interest loan from PWD for repairing private water and sewer lines after a Notice of Defect, or for replacing a lead service line.
How long do I have to repay a Philadelphia HELP loan?
60 months.
Does HELP charge interest?
Only if the loan goes into default.
What repairs does HELP cover in Philadelphia?
Water service and supply lines, curb traps, main drains and sewer laterals.
Can a Philadelphia landlord use HELP?
Yes, if the owner applies and the residential property has no more than four units; it may be tenant-occupied.
Does HELP put a lien on my Philadelphia house?
Yes, for the total cost of the work.
What is a curb trap?
A trap fitting in the sewer line near the curb found in many older Philadelphia homes.
Can I get HELP if I'm behind on my water bill?
Not if you're delinquent for more than two billing cycles.
What number do I call for Philadelphia HELP?
(215) 685-4901.
Why do lateral leaks matter more in rowhouses?
Water from a leaking lateral can wash out soil under shared walls and neighboring foundations.
More plumbing help in Philadelphia
- Water Line Repair in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia lead service lines: owner responsibility, free replacement during main work, the free ZIP-code pilot, and 0% HELP loans.
- Basement flooding in PhiladelphiaWhy Philadelphia basements back up and how PWD's Basement Backup Protection Program installs free backwater valves and downspout changes for eligible homes.
- Leak Detection in PhiladelphiaIn Philadelphia, the owner is responsible for water piping from the city main, including the ferrule and curb stop. How leaks are found, and PWD's Notice of Defect.
- Frozen Pipe Repair in PhiladelphiaFrozen pipes in Philadelphia: keep the meter area above 40°F, trickle a faucet, shut off outdoor lines, check neighbors first.
- Backflow Testing in PhiladelphiaPWD backflow rules: test at installation, after any repair and yearly by a City-certified technician, file Form 79-770 within 48 hours.
- Drain backing up in PhiladelphiaWhy Philadelphia drains back up: grease hardens in the lateral connecting homes to the sewer, sewage backs into houses, and how PWD says to dispose of it.
- Sewer Line Repair: the full guideSigns of a damaged sewer line, how camera inspections find the problem, who owns which part of the line, and how spot repair, relining and replacement compare.
- Plumbing in PhiladelphiaLocal water, housing and climate conditions, and the calls Philadelphia homes need most.
How other cities handle it
- Sewer lateral repair and compliance in OaklandEBMUD's private sewer lateral rules in Oakland: when you need a compliance certificate, how long it lasts, the inspection, and what sellers should do first.
- Side sewer repair in SeattleSeattle side sewer rules: owners maintain the entire side sewer, when you need an SDCI permit, emergency repair rules, typical permit fees, and shared lines.
- Sewer lateral repair in PortlandPortland sewer lateral rules: how responsibility is split with the City, the code that defines it, and the separate permits for private property and the street.
- Sewer line repair in OmahaOmaha sewer lateral responsibility: owners own the pipe to the city main, even beneath the street, what that means for repair costs, and how to check your line.
- Sewer lateral repair in AtlantaAtlanta's private sewer lateral rules: owner responsibility through the connection, what a notice of participation means, required video inspection, and next steps.
- Sewer line repair in Boise: what the owner is responsible forSewer line repair in Boise: city code makes owners responsible for the private service line to the main, including cleaning.
- Sewer lateral repair in Los Angeles and the LASAN rebateSewer lateral repair in Los Angeles: owners maintain the upper and lower lateral to the street main, and LA Sanitation's rebate reimburses up to $2,500 of the cost.
- Sewer lateral repair in MinneapolisMinneapolis sewer laterals: owners maintain the line to the main, wye included, and the city's assessment program spreads costs over property taxes.
- Sewer lateral roots and repairs in San DiegoSan Diego sewer laterals: owners keep them clear of roots, grease and debris, the city responds to damage in the public right-of-way, and neglect gets billed back.
- Sewer service line repair in NashvilleNashville sewer service lines: owners own the line to the public main, Metro Water Services may help with problems inside the sewer easement, and who fills the hole.
- Sewer lateral repair in NewarkNewark sewer laterals belong to the homeowner from the house to the main. Who to call for a backup, what a plumber checks, and repairs in dense rowhouse blocks.
- Sewer line repair in New York CityIn New York City, owners maintain the sewer line from the building up to and including the connection to the city sewer. DEP repair orders, costs and options.
- Sewer lateral repair in Boston and the BWSC grantBoston sewer laterals: owners pay for the entire lateral from the basement to BWSC's main, and BWSC's grant offers up to $3,000 toward work under the street.
- Sewer line repair in PhoenixPhoenix sewer lines: owners clean and repair the building connection to the public sewer, but the city fixes broken sections in the right-of-way for homes.
- Sewer lateral repair in San FranciscoSan Francisco sewer laterals: the owner owns the whole lateral and repairs the upper section to the curb; SFPUC usually repairs the lower section. Permits explained.
- Sewer lateral repair in SacramentoSacramento sewer laterals: owners maintain the upper lateral, SacSewer owns the lower lateral from the easement or right-of-way, and how cleanouts mark the split.
- Sewer line clogs in San Antonio and SAWS lateral reimbursementSan Antonio sewer clogs: a licensed plumber clears your side, and if the blockage is past your property, SAWS may reimburse costs. Marking, the call and paperwork.
- Sewer lateral repair in PittsburghPittsburgh sewer laterals: owners are responsible from PWSA's main to their plumbing, PWSA keeps the main and the wye.
- Sewer line repair in RaleighRaleigh sewer laterals: the owner's line runs from the house to the city main, the city fixes main breaks in the street, common causes, and the 24/7 overflow line.
- Side sewer repair in TacomaTacoma side sewers: owners maintain the line from the building to the city main, right-of-way work needs a licensed bonded contractor, and Sewer Conservation Loans.
Sources (1)
- Philadelphia Water Department, Homeowner's Emergency Loan Program · checked 2026-10-03