Wastewater is coming up a drain or a toilet will not go down
A sewer backup is one of the few plumbing emergencies that is also a health hazard. When wastewater rises in a tub, floor drain or lowest toilet, stop using water in the house right away: no flushing, no laundry, no dishwasher. Every gallon you send down the drain ends up on the floor. Keep children and pets away from the water, and avoid touching it without gloves.
The next question is where the blockage is. Homes in and around Jasper fall into two groups. Some are connected to the City of Jasper sewer system and pay sewer charges on their water bill. Many others, especially in unincorporated Pickens County, use private septic systems that are permitted by Pickens County Environmental Health. The causes, the responsible party and the fix are different in each case.
On City of Jasper sewer: whose pipe is blocked?
If only one fixture backs up, the clog is in that fixture's drain. If several fixtures back up at once, especially the lowest ones, the blockage is in the main building sewer between the house and the city's line, or in the city's main itself. A quick check: if neighbors are having the same problem, or wastewater is overflowing from a manhole in the street, call the City of Jasper. Its Water & Sanitation page lists the Water and Sewer Maintenance Department at 706-692-9101 and the water treatment plant after-hours service line at 706-692-9102.
If the problem is only at your house, the building sewer is usually a private repair for a licensed plumber, who can clear it and often run a camera through the line to find roots, a sag or a break. City sewer customers pay the residential sewer minimum and per-1,000-gallon charges shown in the table below on every bill.
| Item | Inside city limits | Outside city limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential sewer minimum, 3/4-inch meter | $15.00 | $20.00 | City of Jasper rate schedule |
| Sewer, 0-2,000 gallons | $2.55 per 1,000 gallons | $3.83 per 1,000 gallons | City of Jasper rate schedule |
| Sewer, 2,001-5,000 gallons | $3.40 per 1,000 gallons | $5.09 per 1,000 gallons | City of Jasper rate schedule |
| Residential sewer deposit | $50.00 | $50.00 | City of Jasper rate schedule |
Grease, wipes and the city's FOG policy
Grease and so-called flushable wipes are behind many building sewer clogs. The City of Jasper's Fats, Oils & Grease Management Policy, dated April 2022, is aimed at nonresidential users: establishments whose wastewater contains more than 100 mg/L of fats, oils and grease must install a grease interceptor designed to the State of Georgia plumbing code and city specifications, and businesses with deep fryers must also use under-sink interceptors or other grease recovery devices. Homes are not covered by those interceptor rules, but the reason for the policy applies to every kitchen: grease poured down a drain cools and hardens in the line.
Scrape cooking grease into the trash, keep wipes out of toilets, and if a building sewer clogs repeatedly, have it inspected rather than cleared again and again.
Water still moving? Close your own shutoff valve first, then send a Free Quote Request.
Free Quote RequestOn a septic system: signs and the permit office
Septic problems often show up as slow drains throughout the house, gurgling, sewage odors in the yard, or wet, spongy ground over the drainfield. Stop or sharply reduce water use and avoid driving or parking over the tank and field. A plumber can clear the line from the house to the tank; problems with the tank or drainfield usually call for a septic contractor and, for repairs, a permit.
In Georgia, septic systems are regulated by the Department of Public Health through local Environmental Health offices. The North Georgia Health District says permits must be obtained before installing any on-site sewage system, including new systems, additions, modifications and repairs. Pickens County Environmental Health is at 1266 East Church Street, Jasper, phone 706-253-0900. Pickens County's building inspection line-up also requires final approval from Environmental Health to be on file before the power company turns on permanent power for new construction.
| Total square footage | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 square feet | $200 | Pickens County EH Septic Permit Application |
| 1,001-2,000 square feet | $250 | Pickens County EH Septic Permit Application |
| 2,001-3,000 square feet | $350 | Pickens County EH Septic Permit Application |
| 3,001-4,000 square feet | $400 | Pickens County EH Septic Permit Application |
| Extra trip if the inspector cannot find or reach the site, or the house site is not staked | $100 | Pickens County EH Septic Permit Application |
| Unauthorized site modifications before a permit | Permit cost x 2 | Pickens County EH Septic Permit Application |
What the septic fees cover, and what they do not
The fee table above comes from Pickens County Environmental Health's septic permit application, which prices permits by the home's total square footage, including basements, lofts and attached garages. The form is written for permitting a system; ask the office whether a repair permit uses the same schedule. It also warns that grading, filling or digging on a lot before a septic permit is approved can make the property unsuitable for a septic system, with a fine of twice the usual septic permit fee for unauthorized site alterations.
None of these are contractor prices. Pumping, repairs and drainfield work are priced by the contractor, and the Georgia DPH maintains lists of licensed installers and pumpers through the district's septic page.
After the backup is cleared
Clean affected areas with care: wear gloves and boots, remove soaked rugs and porous items that cannot be disinfected, and ventilate the space. Photograph damage before cleanup for an insurance claim. Ask the plumber what caused the blockage and whether a camera inspection showed roots, a sag or a break that will cause it again. For septic systems, keep the pumping and repair records the contractor gives you, since Environmental Health and future buyers may ask for them.
When the answer is a sewer connection
Homeowners with a failing septic system near the city sometimes ask about connecting to City of Jasper sewer instead. For now that option is closed to new applicants: the city has suspended new water and sewer connections through September 8, 2027 under Resolution 2026-01. See the connection suspension guide and the tap fee page. For an immediate backup, the Free Quote Request on this page sends your details to an independent plumber who serves Pickens County.
Where these facts come from: City of Jasper: Water & Sanitation department page (contacts, forms, reconnection notice); City of Jasper: Water and Sewer Rate Schedule, effective August 1, 2024 (PDF); City of Jasper: Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Management Policy, April 2022 (PDF); North Georgia Health District (Georgia DPH): On-Site Sewage Management Systems (septic permits); Pickens County Environmental Health: Septic Permit Application (PDF); North Georgia Health District: Pickens County Environmental Health office; Pickens County, GA: Planning & Development (permits, inspections, affidavits); City of Jasper News: Temporary suspension of new water and sewer connections (Resolutions 2024-16, 2025-06, 2026-01). Checked 2026-10-26.
Describe the problem once. Independent plumbers who work in Pickens County can follow up.
Free Quote RequestQuestions Pickens County homeowners ask
Who do I call if sewage is overflowing from a manhole in Jasper?
Call the City of Jasper. It lists the Water and Sewer Maintenance Department at 706-692-9101 and an after-hours service line at 706-692-9102.
Do I need a permit to repair a septic system in Pickens County?
Yes. The North Georgia Health District says permits are required before installing any on-site sewage system, including repairs. Pickens County Environmental Health is at 706-253-0900.
Can I connect to City of Jasper sewer to replace a failed septic system?
Not as a new applicant right now. The city has suspended new connections through September 8, 2027.