It is important to become educated on sewer maintenance issues because every individual can play a role in helping to solve the problem. As a homeowner, you are responsible for the maintenance and repair of your house lateral, a pipe that connects your home to the public sewer system. A cracked or deteriorated lateral can allow groundwater to seep into the system or one filled with tree roots will result in sewer system backups. In addition, you may be required to fix any improper connections, such as downspouts, driveway drains, or sump pumps connected directly to the sewer system. The stormwater collected from these devices must be drained to your property or directly connected to a separate stormwater system.