Underground Utility Services in Atherton

Atherton homeowners understand that preserving the character of their properties matters. With one-acre minimum lot sizes, mature heritage trees and a town-wide commitment to underground utilities that dates back to 1966, this community has long recognized the value of keeping infrastructure out of sight.

TrenchFree provides trenchless utility installation and repair services throughout Atherton, helping homeowners connect, upgrade and maintain water, gas, sewer and electrical/data lines without the disruption of traditional open-cut excavation.

Why properties in the Town of Atherton need specialized underground solutions

Atherton’s municipal code has required underground utility connections for new construction since 1966, making it one of the earliest Peninsula communities to mandate buried service lines. This policy reflects what residents have always known: underground utilities protect the wooded, estate-like character that defines the town. But underground installation presents unique challenges on Atherton properties. Large lots mean longer service runs from the street to the home. Mature oaks, redwoods and other specimen trees have extensive root systems that traditional trenching would damage or destroy. Many properties feature elaborate landscaping, circular driveways, patios and pools that would require costly restoration after conventional excavation. Trenchless technology solves these problems. By boring horizontally beneath the surface, TrenchFree crews can install new utility lines or replace aging infrastructure while leaving lawns, gardens and hardscaping intact.

Services for Atherton homeowners

Water line installation and replacement

Older Atherton homes often have galvanized steel or copper water lines that have reached the end of their service life. Symptoms include low water pressure, discolored water and unexplained wet spots in the yard. TrenchFree can install new water lines from the meter to the house using horizontal directional drilling, threading durable HDPE or copper pipe through a small bore path without disturbing the surface above. Older Atherton homes often have galvanized steel or copper water lines that have reached the end of their service life. Symptoms include low water pressure, discolored water and unexplained wet spots in the yard. TrenchFree can install new water lines from the meter to the house using horizontal directional drilling, threading durable HDPE or copper pipe through a small bore path without disturbing the surface above.

Gas line services

Natural gas powers heating systems, pool heaters and outdoor kitchens across Atherton. When homes require new gas service or upgraded capacity, TrenchFree installs lines that meet all PG&E specifications while minimizing landscape disruption. For properties adding accessory dwelling units, guest houses or pool equipment, trenchless installation provides the most efficient path from the main to the new point of use.

Sewer line repair and replacement

Tree roots are the leading cause of sewer line failure on wooded Atherton properties. Roots seek moisture and nutrients, infiltrating joints and cracks in older clay or cast iron pipes. TrenchFree offers pipe bursting technology that fractures the old line while simultaneously pulling new pipe through the same path. The result is a seamless, root-resistant replacement without excavating across the yard.

Electrical and data conduit

As homes add electric vehicle charging, upgraded panels, landscape lighting and high-speed networking infrastructure, the need for additional underground conduit increases. TrenchFree installs protective conduit pathways that allow electricians and low-voltage contractors to pull wire without future excavation. This forward-thinking approach is particularly valuable for Atherton homeowners planning phased improvements.

Protecting what matters on your property

The trees that give Atherton its character represent decades of growth. A single trenching project can damage root systems in ways that take years to manifest, eventually killing specimen trees that cannot be replaced. Trenchless boring passes beneath the root zone, preserving both the tree and the homeowner’s investment. Similarly, stone patios, brick walkways and established gardens represent significant investments in a property’s livability and value. Traditional trenching would require removing and rebuilding these features at considerable expense. Trenchless installation eliminates this disruption entirely.

Working within Atherton’s requirements

Atherton maintains specific permit requirements for utility work, and the town’s building department reviews projects carefully to ensure compliance with the underground mandate. TrenchFree crews understand local requirements and work with the town’s process to keep projects on schedule. Atherton is served by the Bear Gulch District via California Water Service (Cal Water) and the West Bay Sanitary District as well as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). For larger projects that involve multiple utilities or coordination with service providers such as PG&E or Cal Water, TrenchFree can help homeowners navigate the planning process and identify the most efficient installation sequence.

Schedule a consultation

Whether you’re building new, renovating an existing home or addressing aging utility infrastructure, TrenchFree provides the underground installation expertise that Atherton properties require. Contact us to discuss your project and learn how trenchless technology can protect your landscape while delivering the utility services your home needs. (CLICK TO CONTACT BUTTON) Two Much of Atherton is served by the West Bay Sanitary District. The District conveys raw wastewater to Silicon Valley Clean Water via the Menlo Park Pump Station for treatment and discharge to the San Francisco Bay. Other homes are served by Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District. Here is a street-by-street list of sewer service providers compiled by the City of Atherton. This list is not definitive, and TrenchFree will contact the relevant district to verify.

Acacia Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Acorn Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Adam Way	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Alejandra Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Alameda De Las Pulgas	West Bay Sanitary District
Almendral Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Alta Vista Dr	West Bay Sanitary District
Altree Court	West Bay Sanitary District
Amador Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Arthur Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Ashfield Rd	West Bay Sanitary District
Atherton Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Austin Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Barmetta Way	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Barry Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Bassett Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Bay Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Belbrook Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Belleau Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Bergesen Court	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Betty Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Brittany Meadows	West Bay Sanitary District
Britton Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Broadacres Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Burns Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Callado Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Camino Al Lago	West Bay Sanitary District
Camino Por Los Arboles	West Bay Sanitary District
Carolina Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Catalpa Dr	West Bay Sanitary District
Cebalo Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Clay Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Coghlan Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Cowell Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
De Bell Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Deodora Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Douglass Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Edge Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Edwards Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
El Camino Real	West Bay Sanitary District/Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Eleanor Drive	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Elena Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Elizabeth Way	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Elm Place	West Bay Sanitary District
Emilie Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Encina Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Encinal Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Encino Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Euclid Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Fair Oaks Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Fairfax Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Fairview Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Faxon Forest	West Bay Sanitary District
Faxon Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Fenwood Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Fletcher Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Fleur Place	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Flood Circle	West Bay Sanitary District
Fredrick Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Glenwood Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Greenoaks Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Gresham Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Hawthorne Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Heather Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Heritage Ct	West Bay Sanitary District
Holbrook Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Irving Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Isabella Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
James Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Jennings Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Juniper Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Karen Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Kilroy Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Knoll Vista	West Bay Sanitary District
Laburnum Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Lane Place	West Bay Sanitary District
Larch Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Laurel Place	West Bay Sanitary District
Leon Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Lilac Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Linda Vista	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Linden Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Lloyden Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Logan Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Lowery Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Lupin Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Macbain Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Madrone Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Magnolia Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Mandarin Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Manzanita Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Maple Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Maple Leaf Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Marianna Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Marsh Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Marymont Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Mccormick Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Meadow Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Melanie Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Mercedes Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Mesa Ct	West Bay Sanitary District
Michaels Way	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Middlefield Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Middlegate Street	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Monte Vista	West Bay Sanitary District
Mosswood Way	West Bay Sanitary District
Moulton Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Mt Vernon Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Mulberry Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Nomandy Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Nora Way	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
North Gate	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Oak Drive	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Oakgrove Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Odell Place	West Bay Sanitary District
Orchard Hills	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Palmer Lane	West Bay Sanitary District/Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Park Drive	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Park Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Parker Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Parkwood Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Patricia Drive	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Placitas Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Polhemus Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Prada Secoya	West Bay Sanitary District
Prior Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Quail Ct	West Bay Sanitary District
Queens Ct	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Ralston Road	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Ravenswood Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Rebecca Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Redwood Way	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Reservior Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Ridgeview Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Ringwood Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Rittenhouse Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Robleda Drive	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Rosewood Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
San Benito Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Santiago Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Sargent Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Selby Lane	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Serrano Drive	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Shearer Drive	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Snowden Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Somerset Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Southgate	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Spencer Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Station Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Stern Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Stevenson Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Stevick Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Stockbridge Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Surrey Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Sutherland Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Tallwood Ct	West Bay Sanitary District
Toyon Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Tuscaloosa	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Valley Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Valparaiso Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Victoria Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Virginia Lane	West Bay Sanitary District
Walnut Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Walsh Road	West Bay Sanitary District
Watkins Ave	West Bay Sanitary District
Wilburn Ave	Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
Winchester Drive	West Bay Sanitary District
Wisteria Way	West Bay Sanitary District