Most of the Belews Creek area is not on municipal sewer; homes use private onsite wastewater systems, and county planners have said public sewer shouldn't be extended into the rural lake area. A camera inspection in Belews Creek is about the pipe from the house to that system, where roots, a crack or a clog can cause backups. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Belews Creek.
What's different in Belews Creek
Belews Creek is a rural, unincorporated community in northeastern Forsyth County near Belews Lake, the cooling lake Duke built in 1973 for its steam station. A City-County planning staff report on a subdivision on Van Hoy Road near Fagg Farm Road found no public water or sewer from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities at that site and said sewer should not be extended into this rural area. Whether any public sewer reaches the community core wasn't verified, but for most homes here, wastewater runs through one drain line to a tank on the lot.
That line is what a camera inspection covers. It can show roots at a joint, a section that settled, a cracked pipe, or a clog. It isn't a way to evaluate the tank or drain field. Housing in the wider Belews Creek area has a median build year of 1994, with about 28% before 1980, so most drain lines are plastic, though older homes may have other materials.
Reading the result
| What you notice | What the camera shows | Likely next step |
|---|---|---|
| Whole house slow | Blockage in the house-to-tank line | Clear or repair that pipe |
| Whole house slow | Line is clear | Have the onsite system evaluated |
| Repeat clogs | Roots or a sag | Cut roots or fix the low spot |
| Wet ground over the pipe | A crack or separated joint | Locate and repair |
Signs worth a camera
- Several drains slow at the same time
- Gurgling from a toilet as the washer drains
- Water backing up into the lowest shower
- Odor or soggy ground between the house and the tank
Tell the plumber up front that the home isn't on municipal sewer and, if you know, when the tank was last pumped. That helps them judge whether the slowdown is in the pipe or beyond it.
Timing notes
Backups that appear only after long, heavy rain may point to saturated ground around the onsite system rather than the pipe. Locating the line is worth doing before adding a deck, driveway or trees. Permits for the Forsyth County side come from the joint Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division; parts of ZIP 27009 in Stokes County would fall under Stokes County instead.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Belews Creek
My home isn't on municipal sewer. Is a camera inspection still useful?
How do I find out whether my home is on public sewer?
Why do my drains slow down after heavy rain?
If the inspection finds damage, who issues the repair permit?
More plumbing services in Belews Creek
Sewer Camera Inspection nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: