Our beautiful city tree seems to have pushed the pipes apart in 3 places, one on city property and two others on ours. We’ve been paying every year to have the roots cut and clear the line but it needs to be fixed. There is nothing else that could be the source of the roots.

What is the city’s responsibility and what is ours? (We just don’t have the funds to pay the latter—are there any ways to cover what may be ours in our utility bill over time?)

Also add an overflow valve from the sewer pipe that runs from the house to the street. Some older homes do not have them and when/if a toilet gets clogged, the wastes will back-up into the house. Having 7" diameter sink/toilet drainage pipes beneath the house is also advisable.

Increasing the diameter of the drainage pipes beneath a house can easily run 10K+ depending on the size of the home.

Workers have to access them via the crawlspace below the house and it is very cramped.

Definitely have (or install) an overflow valve between the sewer line running from the house to the main sewer line in the street. When a toilet backs up inside the house, it makes a mess.