Sewer Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance/Cleaning Crews

The Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Section's aggressive preventive maintenance program ensures that sewer mains remain in proper working order and prevents many problems before they occur. Three hydraulic sewer jet cleaners are used to clean sewer lines with high pressure water hoses removing grease, grit and other debris from the lines. These three sewer jets are also equipped with hydraulic root saws that are used to cut tree roots from main lines where roots are a problem.  In addition to cleaning sewers these crews also respond to stoppage complaints. The program's goal consists of routine cleaning every public sewer main in which an obstruction may result in a backup into a residence or business. The routine cleaning frequency for these lines is intended to be at least a minimum of once every five years.

Stoppage Crews

The Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Section provides 24 hours a day seven days a week service in response to reports of sanitary sewer backups and overflows. Upon being notified of a problem, a two-person crew with a hydraulic sewer jet cleaner is dispatched to the location. Generally the crew will contact the complainant to determine the nature and extent of the problem. The crew then inspects and cleans any sewer 6 inches in diameter or larger which could remedy the problem. Any obstruction determined to be in a public sewer is followed up with an internal TV inspection of the sewer line. In most cases, after a complete review of the incident, the location and the cause of the obstruction can be determined. If the problem is in the customer's line, they will be advised to contact a plumber or sewer service company.

Closed Circuit Television Inspection

The Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Section uses a state of the art closed circuit television system to internally inspect sewer mains and service line connections. This system consists of a color camera with a pan and tilt head which can turn 90 degrees in any direction and is self propelled through sewer lines transmitting a picture to a monitor and video recorder located inside a van. Using this system, problems can be located and identified quickly and without excavation so that proper corrective actions can be taken.

Repair Crew

The repair crew is responsible for repairs to manholes and sewer mains. Excavations have been up to 22 feet deep. This crew repairs sewer mains that have been determined to be in poor condition by TV inspection that was done following a stoppage or because of a problem suspected during routine cleaning.

Trenchless Information Center

The Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Section is constantly seeking methods to do jobs that are safer, more cost effective, and at a minimum inconvenience to our customers.

When conditions warrant, sewer lines can be rehabilitated by several different methods of internal trenchless rehabilitation, eliminating the need for open excavation. This system takes only hours as opposed to days for conventional methods. One method of trenchless rehabilitation, Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP), has been utilized on a yearly contract basis since 1998.

Accountability

The Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Section places much emphasis on accountability of its activities and functions throughout the year. To provide this service, daily reports are compiled to maintain a record of all work and can be used to capture labor costs, equipment costs, and material costs for all jobs, projects, and activities. From this data, monthly reports are produced to provide an accounting for various activities.

Producing and storing these kind of reports enables the Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Section to monitor its work activities and its production, also making it possible to better serve you and the community.

Sewer Back-ups

Does your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy cover sewer back-ups? Despite our best efforts, sewer back-ups do occur.  Not all homeowner or renter policies include coverage for sewer back-ups.  Coverage can be added for a minimal charge.  Check your policy to make sure you are covered. 

Customers affected by sewer back-ups should follow the emergency procedures for sewer back-up guidelines to manage and mitigate the effects of a sewer back-up.

Call Us First

The Sewer Utility provides 24-hour service, seven days a week.  If you experience sanitary sewer problems call us at 573-445-9426.  We will see if there is a problem in the main sewer lines that may be causing your problem.  By calling us first, you may save yourself a plumbing bill.

Backwater Valves

Installing and maintaining a backwater valve may protect your property from damage due to a sewer back-up.   If you have a floor drain, a toilet or a shower/tub drain that is lower in elevation than the top of the next upstream public sewer manhole a backwater valve could protect you from a public sewer back-up.  In order to determine if your property is a candidate for one of these devices, contact Public Works Environmental Services Division at 573-874-7250.