Oakland is now contracting with St. Louis County to coordinate all sewer lateral repairs in Oakland. The benefit for residents is twofold: 1) it will no longer be a reimbursement program with a $2,500 cap, rather the whole repair will be paid for by St. Louis County, and 2) once the homeowner hires a licensed plumber/drainlayer to help identify the problem, St. Louis County will manage the project until completion. As before, it will be the homeowner’s responsibility to arrange a St. Louis County licensed plumber/drainlayer to determine if the line is merely blocked or if there is a break. This is done by cabling the line and confirming the break with a drain camera. A licensed plumber/drainlayer will help fill out the form found on the St. Louis County website (most should have experience filling the application out.) Once that is submitted, St. Louis County Sewer Lateral Program staff will take over and arrange for a contractor to repair the damage. Leaking sewer lines are not always easily identified. Common symptoms include: The appearance of a
sinkhole in an area of your sewer lateral. Regular sewer backs up that cannot be opened with traditional routine maintenance such as “snaking” the line.

See documents below for application and list of licensed master drainlayers in St. Louis County.