If you’re a property owner, you know this ― sewer lateral inspections are a major pain in the butt. At least, they used to be.
This December, the City of Santa Barbara partnered with a software developer to dramatically streamline the review process. Forward Lateral (goforwardlateral.com), explained creator Jesse Aizenstat, replaces literal paper-pushing with a fully digitized cloud system that makes life much easier for homeowners, plumbers, and city workers alike. “This really is a win-win across the board,” agreed Bradley Rahrer, Santa Barbara’s wastewater system superintendent. “It’s been a great public-private partnership.”
Here’s how it works: When someone buys or adds onto a property, they’re responsible for making sure the lateral connection from their home to the city’s sewer system is up to code. A plumber does an inspection, submits it to the city, then the city tells the owner what work, if any, is required. Before Aizenstat stepped in ― after he endured his own lengthy headache with the old process ― plumbers had to fill out hardcopy forms and drive thumb drives with their video inspections down to the city’s offices. Now, plumbers submit everything digitally, the homeowner can more easily bid out the work, and the city stays connected and communicative the whole time. That saves everyone time and money.