Eastern Municipal Water District provides both water and sewer service citywide in Perris, so the public main is EMWD's and the drain line from your house to it is yours to keep clear. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Perris.

Perris used to run its own water and sewer systems in Downtown Perris and North Perris, but Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), which already served most of the city, took them over. EMWD now serves all of Perris for water and wastewater. If you think the blockage is in the public main, EMWD lists 800.698.0400 for system outages and trouble calls. Clogs between your fixtures and that main are private and are what a plumber clears.
What to do right now
- Pause water use. No laundry, showers or dishwasher until you know where the clog is.
- Test another drain. If a sink on the other side of the house also backs up, the main line is the likely culprit.
- Check the tub or shower. The lowest drain in the house is where a main line backup appears first.
- Leave the chemicals on the shelf. They rarely reach a main line clog and make the work riskier for the plumber.
- Find the cleanout but leave it capped. If the line is full, opening it can release wastewater into the yard.
- Ask neighbors. If they are backing up too, call EMWD about the main.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Bathroom sink slow, everything else fine | Hair and soap at the stopper or trap |
| Kitchen sink backs up into the other basin | Grease and food waste in the kitchen line |
| Shower fills when the washer drains | Main line partly blocked |
| Toilets slow throughout the house | Main line clog or blocked vent |
| Hard white crust around fixture drains | Mineral scale from hard water, which can trap soap and grease |
Hardness varies in Perris. EMWD reports its Perris Valley wells, which serve a limited area along Perris Boulevard near the Ramona Expressway, at about 20 grains per gallon, much harder than the roughly 4.7 grains per gallon from its Mills Filtration Plant.
Cost factors
- How far into the line the blockage is and which machine it needs
- Whether there is a usable cleanout
- Whether grease or roots call for jetting instead of a cable
- A camera inspection if clogs keep returning
- Evening and weekend timing
If a sewer line repair turns out to be needed, City of Perris Development Services, Building, handles permits through its online portal.
Drain Cleaning questions in Perris
Who handles a blockage in the public sewer main?
Does hard water play a part in slow drains?
Sewage is coming up into a tub or shower. What should I do first?
Can tree roots get into the sewer lateral?
More plumbing services in Perris
Drain Cleaning nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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