The sanitary sewer lateral line has dropped, inhibiting the easy gravity flow of sewage to the city sewer line.

"The question wasn't if we're going to have trouble, but when," said Bill Dunn, who is looking into buying a house along the easternmost section of Trace Street in Hermitage.

The Hubbard man asked the Hermitage Municipal Authority Wednesday if it would extend a sewer line across the right of way along Trace to the house.

The existing lateral, which takes sewage from the house to the city line, was put in through what was vacant property to connect to the city line on Fairmont Drive. Since then, a house has been built on the corner lot, and a driveway and porch were built over the line, both illegally, said authority solicitor Thomas W. Kuster.

While Dunn, should he buy the house, be within his rights to fix the line, he also would be responsible for restoring the neighbor's yard to its present condition, officials said.