Find out how much infiltration and inflow enters through private property and service laterals instead of public mainlines, drawn from numerous published studies, program reports and surveys.
Private Property Share
43% to 80%
Share of total I&I from private property
0%100%
Private Lateral Share
40%
Median share from private service laterals
0%100%
Adding Laterals
17% to 67%
Peak flow reduction once laterals are added
0%100%
Measured, Not Estimated
29%
Utilities that based their split on flow data
0%100%
Data Explorer
Private Property Share of Total I&I
Share of total infiltration and inflow each utility attributes to private property: laterals, foundation drains, sump pumps, downspouts and area drains together.
Field-Tested Pilot
Utility Estimate
Conceptual Estimate
Bound At Least or Up To
Range
Survey Median
Span of All Estimates
0%25%50%75%100%
Rehabilitation Outcomes
Adding Laterals Raised the Reduction in Each Comparison Below
Each row compares a public-only program with one that also rehabilitated private laterals, in the same study. Most figures are projected design-storm peaks, not measured volumes, and the label says which.
Public Only
With Laterals
Other Scope
Public Range
0%25%50%75%100%
Program Results
Reported reductions from programs that included private property work.
Rockford, IL
Over 65%
Wet weather inflow removed by a public and private program. Post-rehab monitoring only.
0%100%
Johnson County, KS
41.7% to 71.1%
I&I reduction, private disconnections plus sewer work
0%100%
Wauwatosa, WI
75%
Drop in lateral I&I after lateral lining (laterals only, not total)
0%100%
Duluth, MN
49%
5-year peak RDII cut by foundation and roof drain removal
0%100%
Key Findings
What the Evidence Supports
43% to 80%
Of total I&I from private property
Private Property Is Consistently a Large Share
Every utility estimate in this set falls between 43% and 80% of total I&I. In northern systems much of that comes from foundation drains and sump pumps, not the lateral pipe itself.
17% to 67%
Projected peak reduction once laterals are added
Adding Laterals Raises Projected Reduction
Projected peak reduction rose from 17% to 67% in WERF's case studies and from 11% to 88% in Sweet Home, Oregon. Partial lateral work, such as wye grouting alone, has shown no benefit.
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