Yes, Your City Sewer System Needs Regular Sewer Maintenance—Here’s Why
September 4, 2024
When functioning properly, city sewer lines perform a critical service for your community. Out of sight and out of mind, most residents prefer their wastewater stays that way. But when municipal sewer systems fail, the issues that arise can cause a big stink—literally. Without regular sewer maintenance and timely upkeep, pipe blockages, cracks and leaks are likely to occur. And when wastewater gets stuck beneath the very ground your city is built on, it has nowhere else to go but up.
To prevent unhappy homeowners and soggy, smelly basements, communities must work with a reliable pipe inspection company and city sanitary sewer cleaning partner to ensure municipal wastewater continues to go with the flow.
How Do Sanitary Sewers Work?
At its best, a city sewer system allows wastewater to pump seamlessly from home and business sewer laterals to a wastewater treatment facility. Well-cared-for city sewer lines provide a safe channel to carry waste without the threat of runoff contamination or health risks associated with exposure to otherwise raw sewage.
At its worst, a city sewer system overflows and submerges city streets and public grounds in wastewater. Inextricably tied to home sewer laterals, any issues with the municipal sewer main will become acutely obvious to homeowners experiencing plumbing issues. While homeowners are responsible for blockages and problems detected in their own sewer lateral, the city is responsible for all of the connecting pipes that wind their way to the treatment plant. Without sewer maintenance, emerging issues escalate into more drastic damage like a sanitary sewer overflow.
What Is A Sanitary Sewer Overflow & What Risks Are Associated With It?
Sanitary sewer overflows occur when city sewer lines leak raw sewage into the surrounding terrain as a result of backups or pipes over capacity. Uncontained sewage is a major public health concern because it releases hazardous sewer gas and can contaminate nearby bodies of water. Drinking contaminated water or eating a contaminated organism from that water (such as a freshly caught fish) can make people sick.
And of course, along with looming health concerns, raw sewage is a major inconvenience to homeowners whose pipes become backed up, prohibiting plumbing from working as normal. As with a stormwater flood, a sanitary sewer overflow causes expensive property damage with the added risk of sewer gas entering the home. No one and nowhere is safe when waste is on the loose, but municipal professionals can proactively prepare their city sewer system to avoid overflows by knowing what can cause potential disaster.
What Causes Sanitary Sewer Overflows?
The largest contributors to sanitary sewer overflows are blockages, pump failure and inflow and infiltration, all of which can be prevented with proactive sewer maintenance. You can’t control what homeowners are flushing down their pipes to cause blockages in the first place, but you can detect buildup and debris early with an annual inspection from a trusted pipe inspection company. Similarly, with preventative city sanitary sewer cleaning services, high pressure sanitary and storm jetting equipment can blast away blockages before they become problematic.
Inflow and infiltration issues are a bit trickier to manage because they’re often the result of difficult-to-spot cracks in city sewer lines allowing excess groundwater to mix with wastewater and exceed pipe capacity. Repeated inflow and infiltration can wear down equipment like pumps and pipes and exacerbate problems until equipment fails to keep up.
You should also be weary of trees nearby, as tree roots are known to be invasive and grow toward sources of water—such as the constant stream of wastewater flowing through city sewer systems. To stay on top of the multitude of potential dangers brewing at your feet, consider implementing a sanitary sewer maintenance program to make inspections and cleaning routine.
City Sanitary Sewer Cleaning & Maintenance Strategies Reduce Risk & Keep Residents Happy
As seasons change and city budgets ebb and flow, municipal planners can find value in proactive sewer maintenance that allows for early detection of issues and future planning for necessary repairs. Working with a pipe inspection company and scheduling regular city sanitary sewer cleaning are two maintenance solutions your city should plan for annually for the best results. You can also partner with a sanitary sewer maintenance program for potential cost savings and planned maintenance when it works for your budget.
Work With A Pipe Inspection Company
Professional pipe inspection companies like HK Solutions Group have the technology and trained technicians to perform CCTV sewer inspections using minimally invasive cameras to scope out city sewer systems. Our team uses our advanced inspection equipment to diagnose emerging issues in city sewer lines before they worsen and cause an overflow. Because we spot pipe damage before it reaches its peak, we help municipalities save money by recommending cost-effective rehabilitation solutions. Unplanned sewer repair is a lot more costly than proactive rehab. Plus, pipes operating at their full capacity are more efficient so you and your residents can enjoy lower sewer costs.
Sanitary & Storm Jetting
City sanitary sewer cleaning via sanitary and storm jetting is the preferred sewer maintenance solution for many cities wanting to avoid traffic disturbances, chemical cleaning hazards and more. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water blasting equipment to clean out debris, eliminate scale buildup and clear the way for smooth sanitary and storm sewer flow, no chemicals required.
Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Program
For your convenience, HK Solutions Group combines routine sanitary sewer cleaning and pipe inspections in our comprehensive P.I.P.E. sanitary sewer maintenance program. The P.I.P.E.—or Pipeline Inspection and Proactive Evaluation—Program aids municipal planners with budget planning through discounted pipe inspections and cleaning on an annual basis. If our pipe inspection company finds issues in your city sewer lines, we help prioritize and plan ahead for future repair needs so your city budget can account for upcoming service for your municipal sewer system.
When we provide no-dig trenchless pipe rehabilitation for P.I.P.E. Program participants, we offer a 10% discount for even more cost savings. Help your community rest easy knowing their plumbing is protected by city sewer system maintenance that allows for continued performance.
Seeking A Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Program To Keep Your City Sewer Lines Running Safely? HK Specializes In Municipal Sewer System Maintenance
HK Solutions Group inspects more than 2 million linear feet of municipal sewer system pipelines each year, conducting thousands of CCTV sewer inspections for our municipal partners. We know how to resolve sewer issues efficiently, safely and with little disturbance to your community so your city’s sewer system can remain out of sight and out of mind. Ready to get started with proactive planning and proven savings through our P.I.P.E. sanitary sewer maintenance program? Call (515) 283-0500 or contact us online today to learn more about HK’s municipal pipe maintenance services!
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