Sewer Backups
In the event sewage backs up into your basement, call the Public Works Department immediately at 893-6801. If it is a weekday after 4:30 pm or a weekend, call 709-7278. A City crew will respond to assess the situation. Several things may cause a backup.
If your home has an inoperable sump pump, groundwater can flood your basement.
Fats, oils and grease clog sewers. Meat, salad dressing, butter, cooking oils and many other food scraps contain fatty by-products that, when washed down a drain, quickly solidify and deposit on the inside of sewer pipes. Over time, the buildup of these fats, oils and grease may completely block a sewer line. Many of the soaps and detergents claiming to dissolve grease simply pass the problem down the pipes, clogging sewer lines in other areas.
Tree roots will creep into the sewer pipe, trying to find water. Over time this may cause a blockage. Older houses may have clay sewer service lines, generally constructed in 4-foot segments, which are more susceptible to root intrusion than the sewer lines constructed today. The natural swelling and shrinking of soils may cause the joints between the segments to pull apart, creating an opening for roots to enter.
Foreign objects, for example a children's toy, may cause a backup.
A backup may also occur if the City's main becomes blocked.
The City is not responsible for any problems related to the customer's service line or sump pumps. There are several steps homeowners can take to protect their property from a sewer backup.
Pour leftover cooking oils into a container and bring them to the Public Works Department for proper disposal.
Scrape fat trimmings into the trash (not the garbage disposal).
Wipe grease from pots and plates with a paper towel before washing.
Know where the sewer line is located and avoid planting trees or shrubs near it.
Periodically have the service line mechanically cleaned. This should be done every three to five years or every year for older clay pipes.
Choose chemical root treatments that contain a foaming agent designed to expand and fill the sewer line when it comes into direct contact with roots. Roots typically enter the top part of the sewer line.
If there is a backup, the City crews will run a cleaning device down the City main to clear any clogs and attempt to dislodge any tree roots or foreign object that may be in the customer's service line near the connection to the main.
Sewer Odors
All fixtures connected to the sanitary sewer system are required to have a trap that prevents sewer smell and sewer gas from entering your home or building. Sewer gases develop as the sewage starts to decompose on it's way to the sewer treatment plant.
If you smell any sewer odors within your home, make sure that non of your traps are dry. Check your basement floor drains and any fixtures that are infrequently used. If the sewer smell persists, call the City immediately at 893-6231 or 709-7278 after 4:30 pm.
Sewer gas can be dangerous! Sewer gas and odors typically will enter through a dry trap or a broken service line under the structure. Flushing or cleaning of the sewer mains will at times provide some temporary reduction in the sewer smell. The property owner will be responsible for hiring a plumber to fix any plumbing problems within the facility.