|
 
| |
GENERAL INFO
CONTACT INFORMATION
LATERAL vs MAIN
PREVENTING BACKUPS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COPING WITH SEWER BACKUPS
- GENERAL INFORMATION:
A sewer backup creates a stressful and emotional situation for the
homeowner/renter. In some cases it may cause health and safety concerns
as well as significant property loss. A proper response to a sewer
backup can greatly minimize property damage and diminish the threat of
illness.
SCCMUA makes every effort to be responsive to a
residents' needs and concerns when a sewer backup occurs. SCCMUA has a
crew whose sole duty is to inspect, clean and maintain sewers on a daily
basis. Unfortunately, because a sewer is not a closed system, many
things put into the sewer can clog the system. Large amounts of grease
from restaurants and disposable (and cloth) diapers are two common items that
cause problems. While SCCMUA has adopted rules prohibiting the discharge
of any substance likely to cause a sewer obstruction, and can try to educate
the public about the problems they cause, there is really no way we can
absolutely prevent this from happening. Other factors can cause backups
as well, such as tree roots, which can grow into and obstruct the system.
Many homeowners' insurance policies exclude damage
resulting from sewer backups. However, some insurance companies do
provide sewer backup coverage. If you are concerned about the
possibility of a sewer backup and want to insure that you are covered, SCCMUA
urges you to check with your home insurer regarding the availability of sewer
backup insurance.
- CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you experience a sewer problem in DeWitt Twp, Bath Twp Watertown
Twp or the City of DeWitt, please call SCCMUA at
517-669-8311 or 911 and state that you are reporting a sewer emergency.
Backed up sewer lines, line breaks, sewage odors and overflowing manholes are
considered an emergency.
If the problem is in the sewer lateral, the homeowner or business is
responsible for correcting the problem. The owner of the property is
responsible for maintaining and cleaning the sewer lateral from the building
(or home) to the sewer main, including the connection on the sewer main.
Locating the lateral is also the responsibility of the property owner.
SCCMUA has SOME records showing the location of these lateral
lines. Several plumbers also have special locating equipment, which will
be helpful.
If the problem is in the sewer lateral, you will need to call a plumber or sewer/drain cleaning service. Check
your Yellow Pages. SCCMUA cannot make a recommendation. It may be
in your best interest to obtain several estimates.
REMEMBER TO CALL SCCMUA FIRST
before calling a plumber. We will check the sewer main and inform you of
our findings. If the problem is not in the main line sewer, you will be
advised to contact a plumber or sewer/drain cleaning service.
- LATERAL vs. MAIN:
What is a sewer lateral? A sewer lateral or house lateral is the
pipe line between the sewer main, usually located in the street, and the
building. The sewer lateral is owned and maintained by the property
owner including any part, which may extend into the street or public right of
way.
More often than not, the cause of a backup in your lateral is from items
that the line is not meant to handle, such as kid's toys, underwear, towels,
diapers, paper products (other than toilet paper), keys and even false teeth.
To avoid flushing these items, remember to close the toilet lid. What
you flush down the toilet may not affect you, but it might cause problems for
your neighbors! Another possible cause would be roots in your lateral.
The lateral is the responsibility of the owner of the property from the house
to the street.
-
WAYS
TO PREVENT BACKUPS IN YOUR LATERAL AND THE MAIN LINE SEWER: The
property owner can do many things to prevent the lateral from backing up.
Remember too, that the very same things can help to prevent backup's in the
sewer main as well. If everyone would be careful about how they dispose
of certain products, our systems would be a great deal more efficient, cause
fewer backups, cost us all less money, and prevent a lot of misery.
Grease: Cooking oil should be poured into a heat-resistant
container and disposed of, after it cools off, in the garbage, not the
drain. Some people assume that washing grease down the drain with hot
water is satisfactory. This grease goes down the drain, cools off, and
solidifies either in the drain, the property owners line, or in the main
sewer. When this happens, the line constricts, and eventually clogs.
Paper Products: Paper towels, disposable and cloth diapers and
feminine products cause a great deal of problems in the property owner's
lateral as well as in the sewer main. These products do not
deteriorate quickly, as does bathroom tissue. They become lodged in
portions of the lateral/main, causing a sewer backup. These products
should also be disposed of in the garbage.
Roots: Shrubs and trees, seeking moisture, will make their
way into sewer line cracks. These roots can cause extensive damage.
They may start out small, getting into a small crack in the pipe; but as the
tree or shrub continues to grow, so does the root. After time, this
causes your sewer line to break, which in turn allows debris to hang up in
the line, thus causing a back up. One way to prevent roots from
entering your line is to replace your line and tap with new plastic pipe.
The other alternative is to be careful about planting greenery around your
sewer line. If you have continuing problems with tree
roots in your lateral, you may have to have them cut periodically. If
you have a plumber clean roots out of your lead, please call us so that we
can clean the sewer main.
Sewer Odor: Another concern that property owners have is that they
can smell sewer odors inside their home or building. There are many
ways to prevent this from occurring. Under each drain in your plumbing
system, there is a "P-trap". If there is water in this fitting, odor
or gases from the sewer cannot enter through the drain from either the
property owner's lateral or the sewer main. Periodically, check to
make sure that unused floor drains, sinks, etc have water in the "P-trap".
Another way to prevent sewer odor is to ensure that the vents, which are
located on your roof, are free from bird nests, leaves, etc. When
these vents are clear, the sewer odors will escape through these vents.
Illegal Plumbing Connections: DO NOT connect French drains, sump
pumps and other flood control systems to your sanitary sewer. It is
illegal, and debris and silt will clog your line. Consult a plumber to
correct any illegal connections.
Needles: Unfortunately, some people dispose of hypodermic needles
in the sewer system. The presence of these needles in the wastewater
collection system presents special and possible deadly problems for
wastewater collection and wastewater treatment employees. PLEASE DO
NOT FLUSH NEEDLES. The proper method of disposal is to re-cap the
needle and put it into a "sharps container". (This could be any rigid
plastic container such as a bleach bottle...no milk bottles please.)
When it is full, tape the container securely, and call your local pharmacy
for advice on proper disposal methods. PLEASE DO NOT FLUSH THEM OR
THROW THEM INTO THE GARBAGE!
Install a Backwater Prevention Valve: A backwater valve can
prevent or greatly reduce the possibility of a sewer backup. A
backwater valve is a fixture installed into a sewer line, and sometimes into
a drain line, in the basement of your building to prevent sewer backflows.
A properly installed and maintained backwater valve works on a one-way
system, sewage can go out, but cannot come back in. Property owners
are responsible for the installation and maintenance of backwater valves.
The cost to install one is dependent upon the type of plumbing in your home
and the difficulty of installation. A qualified plumber can assist you
in determining your needs.
Q: What is SCCMUA's responsibility regarding private sewer laterals?
A: The property owner is fully responsible for maintaining adequate
sewage flow to and through the sewer lateral, from the property structure to
and into the sewer main. When failure or stoppage of a sewer lateral
occurs, SCCMUA crews will respond only to check the sewer main to verify that
the main is open and sewage is flowing. If the sewer main is found to be
clear, it is the responsibility of the property owner to call a licensed
plumber or drain cleaning service to correct the problem. Verbal
assistance and answers to questions can be received by calling SCCMUA at
517-669-8311.
Q: What if my sewer backs up?
A: If you experience a sewer backup in Bath Twp, Watertown Twp,
DeWitt Twp or the City of DeWitt, call us at 517-669-8311.
After hours, weekends and holidays, call us at 517-669-8311 and leave a
message in the emergency voice mail box, which will immediately page the
supervisor on call. If you do not get a call back within 15
minutes of leaving a message, please call 911. Or you may call "911"-Clinton
County Dispatch immediately and they will call the supervisor on call.
We will dispatch a crew to your address to determine if the stoppage is in
the sewer main or your sewer lateral. If the sewer main if found to be
clear, it is the responsibility of the property owner to call a plumber or
sewer/drain cleaning service to correct the problem. The property owner
is responsible for maintaining adequate flow to and through the sewer lateral
from the property structure and into the sewer main. If the blockage is
in the sewer main we will fix it as quickly as possible and keep you informed
about what is being done.
Q: What about the mess?
A: A sewer backup can lead to disease, destruction of valuables,
damage to your house, and electrical malfunctions. Prompt cleanup of
affected property can help minimize the inconvenience and damage. See
our page regarding "Cleaning up the Mess".
Q: What about disease
prevention?
A: Read the information on our
site regarding "disease prevention".
|
Southern Clinton County