Blockage Of Sewer Lines

A separate network is a network of pipes generally located in the street or public utility easements designed to carry wastewater to a sewage treatment plant.

A lateral sewer pipe is a sewer pipe carrying wastewater from plumbing fixtures and floor drains from homes and business buildings to the leading city network. The owner is responsible for maintaining the lateral sewer lines from inside the building to connecting with the leading city network.

Key Things To Keep In Mind

The lateral sewer line is part of the property, from its physical origin inside the building to the connection with the leading city network. Regular maintenance is strongly recommended to ensure the proper functioning of the lateral sewer line. The removal of grease,                        garbage disposal, the purging of a side sewer pipe whose flow is slow, and cutting roots that infiltrate the network are part of the regular maintenance measures.

If there is a blockage in the side sewer lines, the homeowner is encouraged to hire a plumbing or line cleaning company to remove the blockage source.

If there is a suspicion of a problem in the part of the lateral sewer line located under the city right-of-way, the owner is required to have a video inspection of the sewer carried out at his expense. At his own expense, the owner must also have measurements taken to establish the exact coordinates of his lateral sewer line, carry out the marking (painting and flags) and order a video inspection report to help the city determine precisely where the problem is. Many plumbing and pipe cleaning companies offer this type of service. The city will not reimburse the owner for the costs associated with the video inspection and establish the lateral sewer line coordinates.

If the owner establishes it and then confirmed by the city that the blockage in the lateral sewer line is due to the collapse or malfunction of a pipeline located under the city right-of-way, the city plan, finance and carry out repairs as soon as possible. The owner’s responsibility to maintain his lateral sewer line remains until repairs can be made. If the owner determines that the obstruction is in the portion of the side sewer line located on private property, the responsibility for resolving the problem and the associated costs rests with the owner.