Sewer Overflows, Our Problem or Yours?

Wherever a sewer system exists, so does the potential for overflows. Sewage overflows occur when sewer pipes are blocked or restricted, causing wastewater to back up in the pipe and flow out through manholes or other outlets. Most overflows are relatively small and can be stopped and cleaned up quickly. Left unattended, however, overflows can result in property damage, bad-smelling odors and environmental problems. In a worst-case scenario, they can create public health and safety hazards.

Sewer lines can become blocked due to roots, grease buildup, or debris in the pipes. When this occurs, wastewater is stopped by the blockage and then backs up toward the first possible outlet. Most of the time this is a manhole. However, sometimes the outlet is a fixture or drain in a customer's home or business.

When a sewage backup occurs, the District responds immediately. Our crews locate the blockage and determine if it is in the public sewer; if it is, the crew removes the blockage and cleans up the affected home or business.

Property owners are responsible for internal plumbing and lateral pipes. However, if a backup occurs within your private internal plumbing or in the lateral pipe or side sewer that connects your property to the public sewer, this is your (or the property owner's) responsibility, and the District cannot remove the blockage or make the necessary repairs. You should contact a licensed plumbing contractor to make repairs. A District permit is required for sewer work outside of a building.

Overflows on private property can be prevented in most cases. It is possible to prevent sewage backups with a plumbing fixture called a backwater overflow preventer. Since 1995, backwater overflow preventers have been required on all new houses or remodels that show your home is below the District’s closet downstream manhole. You may already have one. If you don’t, you should have one installed as soon as possible to prevent sewage from backing up into your house should a blockage occur in the public sewer or in your lateral/side sewer. Make sure the device is not blocked or covered by landscaping.

Do you have one in your yard?

Backwater overflow preventers use a ball-check device that automatically opens if water begins to back up. This allows the overflow to occur outside the home. These devices are very effective at preventing overflows in interior fixtures or drains. They are available in a variety of models and price ranges. We recommend that these devices be installed by a licensed plumbing contractor. To find out if your property has a backwater overflow preventer, refer to your home or business's plumbing plans or ask the builder, professional plumber or contractor.

Customer Service to Report Flooding or Sewer Backups

 

© 2005 Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District