The city will be cleaning sewer lines beginning Monday, October 3rd through Thursday, October 6th starting at 7:00am to 5:00pm weather permitting. The area to be serviced includes north of Main Street and east of Kingston Street (N.E. corner of town). The intent of the cleaning is to remove any debris, sand or grit and possibly tree roots from the sewer lines. Trucks using a reel with several feet of orange hose will be used to clean lines by running the hose from one manhole to another followed by a vacuum that will extract debris into the tank of the trunk. If tree roots are present, a more aggressive cleaning procedure will be needed in an attempt to successfully clean the lines.
Overall, general cleaning is uneventful but you may notice a gurgling noise in your toilet or a slight splashing of toilet bowl water (not sewer water) as lines are flushed. This can be caused by partially plugged vents or completely plugged vents if not installed in an optimum location in your home. It is advised to place an old towel over the seat of the toilet and keep the lid of the toilet closed to reduce any inconvenience this may cause. As the vacuum draws water out of drain traps, you may notice a sewer smell after or during cleaning. Pouring water into drains (especially floor drains located in your basement) will help eliminate any unpleasant odors.
It is the obligation of the home owner to maintain their system to the city main and a plugged or improperly installed vent is the home owners responsibility, not the city’s. That being said, as a valued member and homeowner of the community, you and your property are considered in everything the city does while cleaning the sewer lines. The city pledges to do the best possible job with the least possible adverse effects to you as a home owner. If you have questions regarding the sewer cleaning process, please call City Hall at 507-725-3450.