Show All Answers

1. What should I do if my sewer is backed up?

Call us first! If the problem is in our sewer lines, we can save you the cost of a plumber’s visit. Call NapaSan at 707-258-6000, ext. 9, anytime of night or day. Our answering service will take your name, address, and telephone number, and a member of our crew will call you back or be on your doorstep within 30 minutes.

2. Who do I call for garbage collection service?

Garbage collection service in the Napa area is provided by Napa Recycling and Waste Services. You can sign up for service by calling 707-255-5200.

3. What about paint; can I pour that down the drain?

Paint should not go down the drain. Neither should solvents, pesticides, automotive fluids including oil, or any of a range of potentially toxic products. These products can all be disposed of at the Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. Learn how to get rid of other household products that should not do down the drain on the Pollution Prevention page.

4. What are NapaSan’s responsibilities?

NapaSan provides wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal as well as water recycling services to residents of the City of Napa and surrounding unincorporated areas. NapaSan maintains the sewer mainlines and laterals (the pipeline that runs from the mainline to a property) up to the property line. View an example diagram of mainlines and laterals (JPEG).

5. What part of the sewer am I responsible for?

The property owner is responsible for maintaining the lateral line (JPEG) from the property line to the house/building. Customers are also responsible for protecting the sewer lines by preventing clogs. Please read about Pollution Prevention! You might also want to learn more about overflow prevention.

6. Why do we pay sewer fees?

The fees you pay to NapaSan cover the cost of wastewater collection and treatment (Sewer Service Charges), and the cost of improving NapaSan's facilities to meet increasing demand (Capacity Charge). See a thorough description of our Rates and Fees.

7. Is there any assistance for low-income households?

NapaSan provides a discount on sewer service fees per unit for low-income owner-occupied homes and for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that provide housing to low income renters. To qualify, homeowners and organizations must meet certain criteria. Learn more about the Low Income Assistance Program.

8. How can I connect to an existing sewer?

To connect to an existing NapaSan sewer line, your property must be within NapaSan’s service area, you must get a permit from NapaSan, and you must pay all fees and connection charges. NapaSan will review the design for lateral lines to make sure they meet our requirements. See our Permits and Connection Information for more details. If your property is not within NapaSan’s service area, you must also go through an annexation process.

9. Can I tour the wastewater treatment plant?

NapaSan offers free tours of the Soscol Water Recycling Facility, which offers tertiary wastewater treatment and water recycling. These tours are available to school groups, organizations, service clubs and businesses, or anyone with an interest in wastewater treatment and water quality. Tours can be tailored to suit specific age groups, knowledge, and interest levels. Call 707-258-6002 to schedule a tour for your group. We also offer tours during our annual open house.

10. I know I shouldn’t flush old medications down the toilet; where can I take them?

That’s right; even advanced wastewater treatment processes can’t remove medications (known as pharmaceuticals) from wastewater. Traces of medications that pass through the treatment plant can harm aquatic organisms and potentially affect people. To reduce the threat of medications in the environment, dispose of them at a collection facility. To see a list of drug take back bin locations, visit https://www.napasan.com/156/Pollution-Prevention  and click on the Medications tab.