A river town with 1965 sewer
Newport was organized in 1858, and its sanitary sewer was built in 1965 using clay pipe. Clay lines of that era collect roots at the joints and shift with the soil. Many homes in the older core connect through laterals of the same age.
I-494 and Highway 61 meet here, and river overlooks, Pioneer Park at 611 4th Avenue, Loveland Park at 1500 Glen Road and the Bailey School Forest at 1751 Wild Ridge Trail are neighborhood anchors. Our dispatch covers the whole city.
Selling in Newport: the sewer lateral step
Newport requires a point-of-sale sewer lateral inspection, and the city says it is free. Here is how we help.
Book the city inspection
The city arranges the point-of-sale lateral inspection.
Review the video
If the camera shows problems, we can look at the same line.
Choose a repair
Spot repair or lining depends on the findings. See sewer line repair.
Keep records
Save the inspection result for closing.
Water and permit facts
What the city publishes.
| Topic | What the city says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Water source | Two wells, 261 to 285 feet deep, Jordan aquifer | City well water |
| Hardness | The 2025 report prints no hardness | Test your tap |
| PFAS | Listed in the city report, with a temporary interconnect to Cottage Grove water | Read the city report |
| Inspections | By the City of West St. Paul at 651-552-4116 | Call for permit questions |
| Permits | Homeowners may pull their own permits | Licensed work still needs inspection |
We do not publish a hardness number for Newport, because the city report does not print one.
Discolored water after street work
A 2025 street and utility project on 17th Street and 2nd Avenue came with city advice to run a cold outside faucet for 5 to 10 minutes if water looked discolored. That is a good first step after any main work.
If the water stays rusty or the pressure drops after the flush, water service line repair or leak detection may be the next call.
Before We Arrive
Quick things to do.
Where we answer calls in Newport
What affects pricing in Newport
Local factors in quotes.
Insurance may cover water damage from a sudden event but not pipe wear. Photograph before cleanup.
Nearby towns
Newport and Cottage Grove are both in Washington County, and our crews cover both, along with West St. Paul across the river.
Calls we get from Newport homes
The most frequent calls from the area are sewer backups in older clay laterals, sump pumps and water heater failures. The city's point-of-sale inspection also sends a steady number of callers who want a second camera look before they close.
We also hear from owners with discolored water after street work. A cold tap run for several minutes clears most cases. If it does not, we check the shutoff and the service line. We answer every call on the 24/7 line.
Sources for this page
Wells, the PFAS listing and the street project advice come from the City of Newport's published reports and notices. Inspections information comes from the City of West St. Paul. Plumbing work follows Minnesota Rules chapter 4714, built on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Questions people ask
We serve Newport, MN, ZIP code 55055. Call with your address and we will confirm coverage.
Yes. Our 24/7 line serves Newport day and night, and we book same-day appointments when available.
The city requires a point-of-sale sewer lateral inspection and says it is free. Check the details with the city.
No. Sump pumps must drain outside.
The City of West St. Paul handles inspections for Newport at 651-552-4116. Homeowners may pull their own permits.
The 2025 city report prints no hardness. Test your tap for a current reading.