If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re preparing to sell your home in a city that enforces I&I (Inflow & Infiltration) regulations. That means before you can close, you’ll need a sewer camera inspection report. If your line fails inspection, the city will require repairs—sometimes minor, but often major. In some cases, fixing or replacing a sewer line can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 or more.
That’s why understanding I&I and getting ahead of the process is so important. A proactive inspection can save you surprises, help you budget, and give you peace of mind during your home sale.
“I&I” stands for Inflow and Infiltration. That’s just a fancy way of saying extra rainwater and groundwater sneaking into the sanitary sewer system where it doesn’t belong.
When too much clean water floods the system, it can cause backups in homes, higher treatment costs, and even pollution in our lakes and rivers. That’s why many cities now require sewer inspections (and repairs if needed) before a home can be sold—to protect both homeowners and the community.
Ron the Sewer Rat has been a pioneer in this field for over 50 years, conducting unbiased inspections long before they became a requirement. Our extensive experience means we understand the processes and requirements of many cities, including:
Program: Requires an I&I inspection at point of sale.
Process: City-scheduled CCTV video inspection of the sewer line. If compliant, a 10-year compliance letter is issued. If non-compliant, repairs are required, followed by possible reimbursement of up to 15%, city assessment processes, and Council approval. A full sewer replacement yields a 25-year compliance, while spot repairs still earn a 10-year compliance.
Program: Must complete I&I inspections before property sale, also integrated into the rental licensing program.
Process: A city employee inspects for improper sump pump connections. The property owner hires a plumber to televise the sewer line from the property to the city main. Violations must be corrected before the sale of the home, or unless the buyer has accepted responsibility.
Program: No specific point-of-sale requirement, but a robust Sump Pump Inspection Program is in place.
Process: Inspections detect illegal sump pump, foundation drain, or roof leader connections to sanitary sewers. Offending discharges must be redirected—e.g., sump pumps should go to storm sewers or ground. These inspections are performed alongside regular water meter maintenance.
Program: Time-of-Sale Program (applies to single-, two-, and three-family dwellings, condos/townhomes/mobiles) requiring inspection prior to sale/transfer.
Process: Submit application and pay fee ($160). Owner schedules housing inspection and seller must submit televised sewer line video (done by owner’s contractor). Immediate hazards must be corrected (or covered by escrow). The City issues a Certificate of Property Maintenance upon successful correction and submission of the sewer inspection.
Program: Requires a Certificate of I&I Compliance before sale or transfer of property, or when applying for sewer connection/disconnection.
Process: Submit application and pay fee ($250 residential, $750 commercial). City inspects for illegal clear-water connections (e.g., sump pumps, roof or foundation drains). If issues are found, a correction notice follows and must be resolved to obtain certification.
Program: Conducted a large-scale, long-running residential property inspection program targeting I&I issues—completed inspections on thousands of properties.
Process: Inspections often occur alongside water meter changes, checking for sump pump or clear-water discharge violations. Violations are communicated; corrective action is required. The program has significantly reduced I&I, helping Eagan avoid surcharges and infrastructure expansion costs.
Program: H2OPP Point‑of‑Sale I&I Inspection.
Process: Before title transfer, property owners submit an application with a $150 fee. The owner hires a contractor to televise the sewer lateral (private sewer service line), following specific video formatting rules. City reviews within 5 business days: If compliant, they issue a 20‑year Certificate of Compliance.
If non-compliant, the city issues a Notice of Correction; repairs must be completed within 90 days before the sale can proceed. A compliance certificate is then issued.
Program: Requires an I&I inspection at point of sale.
Process: City-scheduled CCTV video inspection of the sewer line. Improper connections or sanitary sewer defects must be corrected. If non-compliant, repairs are required within 180 days of the inspection. Non‑compliance is a misdemeanor and may result in steep monthly charges ($500 residential, $1,000 non-residential) or water service disconnection. Items not fixed within a year require restarting the process (including fees).
Program: Requires an I&I inspection at point of sale.
Process: City-scheduled CCTV video inspection of the sewer line. If compliant, a 1-year certificate is issued. If non-compliant, repairs are required before the sale, or an agreement is in place with the buyer to have repairs completed within 60 days of the transaction
Enjoy an easy booking process and an initial discussion to understand your specific needs.
We utilize high-definition cameras and the latest equipment to provide precise I&I inspection services.
We meticulously look for cracks, blockages, roots, disconnections, inflow and infiltration, and other issues.
You receive a clear and easy-to-understand camera inspection report, complete with video footage and expert recommendations.
We do not perform repairs, ensuring our advice is purely diagnostic and your camera report is objective. If any repairs do need to be made, we’ll connect you with a trusted professional from our local referral network.
Areas covered during an I&I inspection:
helps you meet pre-sale inspection and closing deadlines
provide honest assessments and recommendations
and transparent pricing from experts you can trust
You receive a clear with over 50 years of experience providing reliable inspection services
“I'm a realtor and needed a sewer clean out (tree root) and scope and I needed it yesterday so my buyer could know whether or not they wanted to buy the house. This company answered the phone, and were so highly knowledgeable, friendly, and organized. They made it very easy to get my buyer involved, the seller involved, the other agent and yet have it all be smooth and easy. The technician was amazing, very friendly, wore booties on his shoes, closed the door between equipment haul ins so bugs didn't get in the house, explained the scope in words I could understand and explained it again to my buyer without a problem. The price was as was quoted on the phone. They will now be in my ‘first to call’ database!”
“I recently had Ron the Sewer Rat inspect the sewer line for a house I am in the process of purchasing. The sewer line had extensive problems which were shown on a video they sent me. I also received several phone calls from Garvin, the technician who performed the work, detailing exactly what would be required to fix the line. Garvin also took a call from me on a Saturday and spent over half an hour on the phone with me answering my questions. I would recommend this service to anyone and I would especially recommend Garvin, his ability to explain technical issues, his customer service and his willingness to spend so much time with me was truly amazing. Garvin is a true first class professional. I will be asking Ron the Sewer Rat to perform follow up trouble shooting once we have purchased the property.”
You will receive a comprehensive sewer camera inspection report, including a detailed camera report and video footage.
No. We strictly provide independent inspections to ensure our reporting is unbiased and free from conflicts of interest. This guarantees a truly unbiased camera inspection report.
We recommend an I&I inspection before purchasing a home, or if you suspect any issues with your sewer system, such as persistent backups or slow drains.
Don’t let hidden sewer issues become your problem. Schedule your unbiased I&I inspection with Ron the Sewer Rat today and gain the clarity and confidence you deserve.
