Sewer Information
Spring Maintenance
One of the most costly repairs that your home may ever require is the repair or replacement of your sewer line. Damage to or blockage of your home’s sewer line can cause flooding of your home or possibly sinkholes on and around your property.
That is precisely why most municipal wastewater management divisions recommend that all homes have their sewer pipes inspected (sewer scope). Whether your home is a new purchase, a turn of the century home, or a home that is having minor sewer problems, having your sewer pipe inspected is a simple process that will give you piece of mind and can potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Roots Infiltrations
Pipe Separation
Fractured Pipe
Obstructions/Blockage
Party or shared sewers
Party or shared sewers collect the sewage from multiple homes and take the sewage via one pipe to a single common lateral that is connected to the sewer main in the street. This one pipe travels across the property of one party. Unfortunately, there are not reliable records of the party sewers, so they are handled as they require repair. When a party sewer needs repair:
• The sewer lines for each property must be separated and routed on the property of each separate structure then connected independently of the others to the City’s main sewer line.
• If a City sewer service lateral or a tee/wye fitting is available to the property, a connection at that location will be required.
• Under some circumstances site conditions may hinder independent connections to the City main. In some cases, separate private sewer lines may be allowed to tie back together at the curb line to utilize a common lateral for connection to the City sewer. This requires authorization by BES and cleanouts placed at the curb for future maintenance.
• If the party sewer cannot be separated, the property owners using the shared sewer are required to sign a maintenance and easement agreement. This agreement is recorded on all the deeds involved and a copy is archived by the City. Once the maintenance agreement has been completed, the parties involved are then equally responsible for any repair costs to the party sewer.
All proposed connections and party sewer work must be verifi ed with BES before starting work. Contact BES Development Review at 503-823-7761 for sewer location and connection information.
