Infiltration is groundwater leaking into a sewer pipe through cracks, joints, or defects.
A properly functioning sewer pipe is a closed system — waste flows in one direction, and nothing from outside gets in. Infiltration happens when the pipe wall or a joint fails and groundwater from the surrounding soil enters the pipe.
Infiltration matters because: excess water in the sewer system increases the volume being processed by the treatment plant (a municipality concern for public sewers) and can indicate structural failure in private laterals. A pipe with significant infiltration is leaking — and if water is getting in, waste is likely getting out in the same location.
On camera, infiltration shows up as water actively seeping or flowing into the pipe through a crack or joint. The entry point needs to be repaired, not just jetted — jetting clears what is inside the pipe but will not close a crack in the pipe wall.
Questions about your pipes? Call Sunburst Environmental at 678-799-4389 — same-day response across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Or request a free estimate online.