I got a PWD Notice of Defect. What happens now?

Why did PWD send me a Notice of Defect?

PWD inspects the sewer system constantly. Crews run cameras through the mains, respond to street cave-ins, and check laterals during water main and paving projects. When they find a defect on the private side of a connection, they send the property owner a Notice of Defect. Common reasons include a broken or collapsed lateral, a lateral that is leaking and washing soil out from under the street, a missing or damaged curb trap, or a water service line leaking near the curb.

The notice is not a fine. It is a formal instruction that the line is yours and it has to be fixed. It names the defect, the address, and a deadline for the repair. Sometimes a neighbor's backup or a sinkhole in the sidewalk is what triggered the inspection. Read the whole thing before you do anything else, and keep it. You will need the notice number for permits and for closing it out later.

What does the notice actually require me to do?

In plain terms, it requires you to hire a licensed plumber, pull the right permits, fix the defect PWD described, and have the repair inspected so PWD can clear the notice. If you ignore the deadline, the city can do the work and bill you, or place a lien on the property. Confirm the current enforcement process with PWD, because it changes.

What it does not require is that you use any particular contractor. You choose who does the work. A few things to look for:

• A Pennsylvania master plumber license and a Philadelphia plumbing license. Our owner holds PA Master Plumber #34690.
• Experience with PWD paperwork, since the notice has to be closed out, not just the pipe fixed.
• A camera inspection before the estimate, so you are paying to fix what is actually broken.
• Written options, not one number.

Should I get a camera inspection first?

Yes, even though PWD already looked. The city's inspection tells you there is a defect. It does not always tell you the condition of the rest of the line, and it does not tell you which repair method fits. A camera inspection from the house to the main shows the location and depth of the break, whether there are roots, bellies (sagging sections that hold water), or offset joints elsewhere, and whether the curb trap is intact.

That matters because it changes the scope. A single cracked section near the curb might be a spot repair. Clay pipe with roots at every joint might be a candidate for a liner or full replacement. Fixing only the spot PWD flagged and leaving a failing pipe behind means another notice later. We run a camera before every sewer job and show you the footage, then we lay out the options.

How does the PWD HELP loan work?

PWD offers a Homeowners Emergency Loan Program, usually called HELP, for owners who receive a Notice of Defect and cannot cover the repair up front. It is a loan, not a grant, repaid over time through the water bill. Eligibility depends on factors like whether you live in the home and the status of your water account, and the rules change, so check the current program details with PWD before you plan around it.

To use HELP, the plumber generally has to be registered with the program, and the scope has to match what the notice requires. We can walk you through the application. If HELP does not fit, financing is another route: 0% financing available with approved credit (Wisetack). Either way, ask before the work starts, not after.

What happens after the repair?

Once the pipe is fixed, the work gets inspected. Philadelphia L&I inspects the plumbing under the permit, and PWD has to confirm the defect is corrected so the notice is closed. The sidewalk or street is restored under the street permit. Keep copies of the permits, the inspection results, and the camera footage. If you ever sell the house, the buyer's inspector will ask.

Here is the order we follow on a Notice of Defect job: camera inspection, written options, permits pulled, repair by our own underground crew, inspection scheduled, restoration, and notice closed out with PWD. You get one point of contact from start to finish.

If you have a notice in hand, request service and send us a photo of it. We will read it with you, check the deadline, and get a camera on the line so you know exactly what you are dealing with. Free second opinions on qualifying larger projects are always available.