Who provides sewer in Madison Heights
The Amherst County Service Authority supplies public water and wastewater service in the southern part of Amherst County, which includes Madison Heights. It began in the early 1930s as the Madison Heights Sanitary District and was reorganized as the authority in 1987.
Call the authority at (434) 845-1605 to ask whether a sewer line serves your lot. If it does not, the house is on septic and you are responsible for the tank and field.
The Gateway sewer project on Route 163
The authority has been planning a sewer extension along Route 163 near the Route 210 intersection. A 2024 report said it was designed to serve a senior-oriented housing development of about 650 units and to deal with sewer problems on River Road, where the plan includes replacing grinder pumps.
The report does not say that nearby septic homes will be offered a connection, so do not assume a tie-in. Ask the authority about your address.
Pumping a Madison Heights septic tank
A tank on a Madison Heights lot needs pumping on the household schedule, usually every three to five years. If you cannot find the lid, tank and drain field location comes first, and a riser keeps it from being buried again.
Do not plant over the field or park on it. The drain field guide covers what to keep off it.
Selling or buying a septic house in Madison Heights
No state rule makes a seller order a septic inspection, but a lender, agent or buyer can ask for one, and the inspector must be DPOR licensed under the law that took effect July 1, 2025. A real estate septic inspection looks at leaks, the tank and the field.
Whether the house is on authority sewer or septic is the first thing to settle. It decides what the inspection covers, and it decides who you call when something backs up: the authority for a sewer lateral, Dunn Rite for a tank or field.
Septic permits for Madison Heights from the Amherst office
Septic and well permits for Madison Heights go through the Amherst County Health Department at 224 2nd Street in Amherst, (434) 946-9408. The Amherst County page has more on the county. After inspection, the health department issues the operation permit that gives the owner authority to use the system, so ask for a copy of it when you buy.
If sewage backs up into the house, call emergency septic service. Do not run the washing machine or flush to see if it clears.
Pascat photo requestPhoto needed hereOpen concrete tank lid with a new green riser collar in a Madison Heights side yard, shot from standing height in flat morning light, lid and collar both visible.
Common questions
How do I find out if my Madison Heights home can connect to sewer?
Call the Amherst County Service Authority at (434) 845-1605 with your address. A sewer main on the street does not always mean your lot can connect, so ask about distance, connection requirements and cost before you decide on septic repairs. If you are buying, get the answer in writing.
What is the Gateway sewer project?
It is an Amherst County Service Authority project along Route 163 near Route 210. A 2024 report tied it to a large senior-oriented housing development and to River Road sewer problems. It is not described as a program for existing septic homes, so do not assume you will be offered a tie-in.
What are grinder pumps and do they matter if I have septic?
Grinder pumps lift wastewater from a house to a sewer main and are used on sewer, not on a standard septic system. If your River Road home has one, the service authority is the contact for it, not a septic contractor. A septic tank with a pump chamber is a different setup.
Which health department handles Madison Heights septic permits?
The Amherst County Health Department, 224 2nd Street, Amherst, phone (434) 946-9408. Lynchburg’s office is close by, but Madison Heights is in Amherst County, so septic and well permits go through the Amherst office. It can also tell you what the permit file shows for your lot.
Does Virginia require a septic inspection before I sell in Madison Heights?
No. House Bill 2671, effective July 1, 2025, sets standards for any inspection requested as a condition of sale, refinance or transfer, and requires a licensed inspector. It does not require an inspection on its own. A buyer or lender who wants one can ask, and you can offer a recent pump-out record.