If you think you have a sewer obstruction or backup and aren't sure where the blockage is, call the City of Forest Lake Utility Department before you contact a drain cleaning company. The City will check the sewer main through a manhole to see whether the blockage is in the main line. If the main is clear, the blockage is in your private sewer service pipe between the main and the house. Root intrusion from mature trees into older sewer services is a common cause of obstructions.

Call Forest Lake Utility Department @ 651-209-9743

Monday-Friday, after hours, on weekends or holidays

A message must be left at this number in order to allow

City crews to be dispatched to assess the situation.

If no blockage or restriction is found in the City's sanitary sewer system, the property owner should contact a professional plumber or drain cleaning service to inspect the private sewer service. The City cannot recommend drain cleaning providers, and owners may want to gather several estimates. We do ask that you let us know after a sewer service has been cleaned. The cleaning process often pushes a large amount of solids into the sewer main, which can cause a blockage in the main and lead to a bigger problem.