Watertown City Council

Transcription

1 City of Watertown Agenda Item: Request for Action: Department: Background: Watertown City Council Motion to accept 2013 Watertown Sanitary Sewer Plan Accept 2013 Sanitary Sewer Plan Doug Kammerer, Utility Superintendent Request for Action The City has 126,340 feet of public sanitary sewer mains, 443 manholes, and 7 lift/pump stations with its sanitary sewer system. Procedures identified in this plan are intended to maintain the City s sanitary sewer system to prevent backups and to extend the life of the system. It is the plan of the City of Watertown to comply with all applicable state and federal regulatory requirements. The City has developed and implemented this Plan to consider public safety, environmental concerns, the cost of implementation versus the benefit to be achieved, and personnel resources. The City will use its employees, equipment/or private contractors to provide this service. This document is intended to be a guideline and there may be situations which merit an alternative approach. Issues including, but not limited to, budget constraints, critical equipment failure, weather, and other emergencies may prevent the City from meeting the guidelines established herein. The City may deviate from these provisions within this plan. Deviations from the best practices established in this Plan will be documented; through the City will use this Plan to guide any sanitary maintenance activities that will be provided by a contractor or a party other than the City. Components of the Plan are: A. Routine Maintenance and Inspection Goals-which includes jetting, televising, Lift stations and problem areas. B. Inflow and Infiltration-Inspections of manholes, sump pump inspections and infrastructure evaluation. C. Personnel Responsibilities and Requirements-Training of employees on the equipment and proper maintenance of the city s sanitary sewer lines and how to respond to a sewer backup. D. Documentation-The City will document all of its inspection, maintenance and emergency response of the system. This will help the city plan for goals for the future. E. Public Education-The city will inform the residents of their responsibilities related to the sanitary sewer service from the City of Watertown. Different ways will be direct mail, newsletters, City Web site and cable channel. This Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Plan will replace the current Policy which the City Council adopted years ago. The League of Minnesota had requested that Cities adopt a more comprehensive plan. This Plan breaks down in more detail who is responsible for what part of their sanitary sewer system. The City is responsible for the main sanitary sewer line itself and the homeowner/business owner is responsible for the lateral from inside their home/business and then to the main sanitary sewer line including the connection. This Plan gives staff an annual goal of what needs to be accomplished in the sanitary sewer system in order to help prevent backups, repairs, and help with reducing Inflow and Infiltration. On an annual basis staff can use

2 information gained from this Plan to help budget for the future. Another important part of this plan is the public information for people that use the sanitary sewer system. Staff wants the public to know that what they deposit makes a difference in the maintenance of the sanitary sewer system. Staff recommends adopting the Watertown Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Plan. Attachments: 2013 Watertown Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Plan

3 2013 Watertown Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Plan Doug Kammerer City of Watertown 1/8/2013

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5 Watertown Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Plan Table of Contents I. Sanitary Sewer Plan II. Sanitary Sewer Emergency Response Plan III. Exhibits A. Sewer Jetting Record and Map Sections 1-5. B. Lift Station information, Maintenance log and Standard Operating Procedures C. Sanitary Manhole I/I Record D. Confined Space Check List E. Resident Backup Contact Report and Sewer Backup Information.

6 I. Watertown Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Plan A. Purpose: The City has 126,340 feet of public sanitary sewer mains, 443 manholes and 7 lift/pump stations within its sanitary sewer system. Procedures identified in this plan are intended to maintain the City s sanitary sewer system to prevent sewer backups and to extend the life of the system. It is the plan of the City of Watertown to comply with all applicable state and federal regulatory requirements. The City has developed and implemented this plan to consider public safety, environmental concerns, the cost of implementation versus the benefit to be achieved, and personnel resources. The City will use its employees, equipment and /or private contractors to provide this service. This document is intended to be a guideline and there may be situations which merit an alternative approach. Issues including, but not limited to, budget constraints, critical equipment failure, weather, and other emergencies may prevent the City from meeting the guidelines established herein. The City may deviate from these provisions established within this plan. Deviations from the best practices established in this plan will be documented, though the City will use this plan to guide any sanitary sewer maintenance activities that will be provided by a contractor or a party other than the City. B. Routine Maintenance and Inspection Goals Sanitary Sewer Mains Scope of City s Responsibility-The City of Watertown will maintain the components of the public sanitary sewer system. This includes sanitary sewer mains, manholes, lift stations, wastewater treatment plants, and other components. Private property owners are responsible for the maintenance of sanitary sewer components including their connection to the public sanitary sewer line and private service line. Schedule-The City s goal is to inspect and maintain one-fifth of its sanitary sewer system according to the attached map/schedule each year, on a rotational basis. Equipment-The equipment used to perform maintenance will depend on the equipment available and its effectiveness as determined by qualified staff.

7 Television Inspection-The City s sanitary sewer mains will be routinely inspected by television camera in accordance with the attached schedule/map. Sanitary sewer mains in a new development must be televised before said mains are turned over to the City. Television inspection may also be used to inspect the system where there are possible problems. In addition, the City may require any main near a construction site to be televised before and after the construction(i.e., near blasting, digging, other activities that might disrupt the main, etc.) A written report summarizing and interpreting the findings of the televising will be also required. These records will be kept by the City or a minimum of 12 years. Problem Areas The sanitary sewer mains will receive maintenance as described on the sewer map. The sanitary sewer mains that have historically required additional maintenance will be maintained in both the spring and the fall these mains are highlighted on the attached map. The Utility Superintendent may add additional sewer mains to the map if he/she deems necessary. Sanitary Sewer Lift Stations The City maintains lift stations using specific maintenance that is consistent with industry best practices. The number of lift stations, locations, date of installation, and capacity of each lift station is kept on record. Maintenance of each lift station is reflected in Standard Operating Procedures(SOP). C. Inflow and Infiltration Inflow and infiltration occurs when clear water gets into the sanitary sewer system. This may occur through infrastructure failures such as cracks or leaks in the sewer pipes and manholes or through intentional mechanical connections such as sump pumps incorrectly connected to the sanitary system. Inflow and infiltration can lead to backups, overflows, and unnecessary and expensive treatment of clear water. City employees will inspect manholes during routine maintenance activities to identify structures that contribute to this problem.

8 D. Personnel Responsibilities and Requirements 1. Exercise of Professional Judgement It is expected that City employees, in accordance with their job duties and responsibilities, will exercise professional judgement in the implementation of this policy. Further, it is expected that in emergency situations(see Emergency Response Policy) City employees will be required to exercise discretion and weigh fiscally prudent and efficient considerations including but not limited to public and employee safety, the potential for damage to private property and the City sanitary sewer system, and environmental concerns. 2. Training and Education The City will provide training to employees responsible for maintenance of and emergency response on the sanitary sewer system. Employee training will include education necessary to earn and maintain appropriate operator certifications. Training will also address standard operating procedures, proper use of equipment, emergency response, and other topics required by state and federal regulatory agencies. 3. Work Schedule Full-time City employees in the Public Works/Utility Departments will be expected to work shifts as outlined in the Personnel Policy. In emergencies, employees may be required to work in excess of eight hours. Budget and safety concerns may limit the length of time an employee is permitted to work. 4. Weather Conditions Regular sewer maintenance operations will be conducted only when weather conditions do not endanger the City employees and equipment. Factors that may delay sewer maintenance operations include, but not limited to: severe cold, severe heat, flood, rain, snow and other severe weather events.

9 E. Documentation The City will document all of its inspection, maintenance, and emergency response for its sanitary sewer system. The City will also document circumstances that limit its ability to comply with this policy. A report should be prepared annually for the purpose of evaluating maintenance activities and for determining goals for the future. These records will be kept in accordance with the City s records retention schedule. F. Public Education Periodically, the City will inform residents of their responsibilities related to sanitary sewer service from the City of Watertown. Different strategies to accomplish this goal include Direct Mail, Newsletters, City Web Site and Cable Channel. G. Other Sanitary Sewer System Policies The City has a number of other policies and /or ordinances that are important to the ongoing operation of the City s sanitary sewer system. The following documents are available on the City s Web Site and in the Utility Department section. Public Sanitary Sewer Use Ordinance System Rehabilitation Policy Homeowner Best Practices

10 City of Watertown Sanitary Sewer Emergency Response Plan 1. Procedure It is the City s policy to respond to sewer backups, lift station alarms or failures, and other system problems or failures 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During normal business hours, all calls and reported problems will be dispatched by the City Hall. Normal business hours are from 8:00am to 4:30 pm., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. At all times other than normal business hours, emergency calls will be routed to the On-call staff member. The Utility Superintendant will designate one or more employees as on call during non-business hours and will develop an on-call schedule and on-call response procedures. 2. Response It is the goal of the division to provide an initial response within 60 minutes, or as soon as possible under the circumstances, of receiving report of a problem or an emergency call. The time necessary to remedy a problem will vary depending on a number of factors. When appropriate, City staff will check the sanitary sewer main at the point of the problem. Corrective action will be taken if the City s sanitary sewer main is found to be blocked or obstructed. When a blockage is found in a sanitary sewer main which causes a backup into a private portion of the system, the first priority is to address the City s sanitary sewer main. After a sanitary sewer backup is remedied, efforts to determine the cause of the blockage or backup will be undertaken by those responding to the emergency. Written records of emergency response will include information and documentation concerning the cause(s) or possible cause(s) of the blockage or backup. Certain emergencies may require bypass pumping out of the system. If sewage is being discharged anywhere other than the City s sanitary sewer system the State Duty Officer must be notified within one hour.( ) When investigation of a back up determines that the problem is within the lateral line of the resident s sewer system, the resident will be informed of possible corrective actions that may be required on their portion of the system.

11 3. Reporting On-call staff member will notify the Utility Superintendent when the problem is found. At that time the Utility Superintendent will notify the City Administrator of the problem and solutions. The State Duty Officer must be notified within one hour of discovery of sewage being discharged anywhere other than to the City s sanitary sewer system. All sewer backup claims must be referred to the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust(LMCIT) for determination of liability. City employees are instructed to not claim responsibility or mislead residents about city liability for backups in the municipal sanitary sewer system.(see City Sewer Main Backup Procedure attachment)

12 Exhibit A Sewer Jetting Record and Map Sections 1-5

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21 Exhibit B Lift Station Information, Maintenance Log and Standard Operating Procedures

22 Name of Lift Station: Main Lift Station Address: 600 Lewis Ave North Type of Pump: Flygt Model Number: NP Serial Numbers: , , Impellor: 437 Number of Pumps 3 Volts: 460 Phase: 3 FLA: 30 H.P.: 25 Type of Control: Level sensing Transducer Type of Alarm System: Sensaphone Dialer Date in Service: Jun-06 Amps at start up: Pump#1 R-22 W-22 B-22 Pump#2 R-20 W-20 B-20 Pump#3 R-22 W-22 B-23 Name of Lift Station: Rosewood Lift Station Address: 650 Hwy 25 North Type of Pump: Flygt Model Number: Serial Numbers: Impellor: 435 Number of Pumps: 2 Volts: 460 Phase: 3 FLA: 13 H.P.: 3 Type of Control: Level sensing Transducer Type of Alarm System: Sensaphone Dialer Date in Service: Mar-07 Amps at start up: Pump#1 R-3.5 W-3.7 B-3.6 Pump#2 R-3.4 W-3.5 B-3.5

23 Name of Lift Station: Sugarbush Lift Station Address: 911 Madison St. SE. Type of Pump: Flygt Model Number: Serial Numbers: , Impellor: 483 Number of Pumps 2 Volts: 460 Phase: 3 FLA: 13 H.P.: 10 Type of Control: Floats Type of Alarm System: Sensaphone Dialer Date in Service: Aug-97 Amps at start up: Pump#1 R-8.6 W-8.7 B-9.0 Pump#2 R-8.5 W-8.9 B-9.0 Name of Lift Station: Whitetail Run Liftstation Address: 2900 Madison St. SE Type of Pump: Flygt Model Number: Serial Numbers: , Impellor: 483 Number of Pumps: 2 Volts: 460 Phase: 3 FLA: 25 H.P.: 10 Type of Control: Floats Type of Alarm System: Sensaphone Dialer Date in Service: Sep-96 Amps at start up: Pump#1 R-17 W-16 B-17 Pump#2 R-17 W-16 B-17

24 Lift Station Run Times Month/Year Date. Date Thurs. R.T. Weekly R.T. Thurs. R.T. Weekly R.T. Main lift Pump 1 Main lift Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Pump 3 Pump 3 Newton Pump 1 Newton Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Sugarbush Pump 1 Sugarbush Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Tuscany Pump 1 Tuscany Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Whitetail Pump 1 Whitetail Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Hutch Rd. Pump 1 Hutch Rd. Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Jackson Pump 1 Jackson Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Date. Date Thurs. R.T. Weekly R.T. Thurs. R.T. Weekly R.T. Main lift Pump 1 Main lift Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Pump 3 Pump 3 Newton Pump 1 Newton Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Sugarbush Pump 1 Sugarbush Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Tuscany Pump 1 Tuscany Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Whitetail Pump 1 Whitetail Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Hutch Rd. Pump 1 Hutch Rd. Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Jackson Pump 1 Jackson Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 2 Date. Amp Draws Thurs. R.T. Weekly R.T Main lift Pump 1 Pump 2 Pump 3 Newton Pump 1 Pump 2 Sugarbush Pump 1 Pump 2 Tuscany Pump 1 Pump 2 Whitetail Pump 1 Pump 2 Hutch Rd. Pump 1 Pump 2 Sugarbush Pump 1 Pump 2

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26 Operating Procedures for Lift Stations Activities: 1. All Lift Stations should be checked on a daily basis. 2. Auto dialers should be checked on a weekly basis. 3. Amp Draws will be taken on a monthly basis. 4. All stations should be operated in automatic mode at all times unless a problem occurs or maintenance is required. 5. Stand-by generators are to be inspected and exercised on a weekly basis. 6. All Maintenance activities must be documented by date, time, and definition of issue. 7. Plans for the lift stations are located at each lift station. Problems that could be encountered with any of the lift stations: 1. Power Failure: (Auto dialer will notify staff) Remedy: Contact Xcel Energy and utilize standby generators when needed. Xcel Energy, Lights Out: Pump Failure: If either pump has failed there will be a low run time on that pumps runtime hour meter, or a high alarm will occur which will in turn call out a staff member because of the auto dialer. If a pump has failed and a breaker has tripped this may mean that the pump is plugged or it has a motor problem. Reset the breaker. If the breaker trips out a second time, contact a supervisor and then the Electrician. (Nelson Electric ). In the occurrence that a pump must be left off there is an alternator switch available in all of the stations. The alternator switch is usually in the automatic mode. When a pump needs to be put in the single lead mode, place the toggle switch in the appropriate pump designation, depending on which pump has failed in the station. 3. Seal Failure: All stations have seal fail warning lights installed in the panel. If one of these lights is on the pump should be treated as a failed pump. Staff will be called out by the auto dialer for this failure also. The pump should be removed and serviced.(nelson Electric ) 4. Overtemp: All stations are equipped with overtemp warning lights if overtemp occurs the auto dialer will notify staff members. Staff members may try to reset with the overtemp reset button. If the pump continually overtemps the pump should be treated as a failed pump and service should be performed.

27 5. Float Problems/Transducer Problems: If you are obtaining false level, or high operation times are noticed it could be possible that a float is hung up or has grease stuck to it or the transducer is dirty or is not working properly. Check floats and service if needed. 6. Pumps found in OFF position: Maintenance staff will have provided an applied Out of Service tag on the inner panel adjacent to the HOA switch. This tag should correspond with a locked out breaker switch cover, which should be checked. Consult Supervisor, or other staff member who has tagged out the pump for reasons. If there are any questions or areas of concern contact the Utility Superintendant, or Service Person doing the repairs on the lift station.

28 Exhibit C Sanitary Manhole I/I Record

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30 Exhibit D Confined Space Check List

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33 Exhibit E Resident Backup Contact Report and Sewer Backup Information

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35 SEWER BACKUPS AND BLOCKAGE What to do in the event of a sewer backup Property owners experiencing a sewer backup may call between the hours of 8a.m. and 4:30p.m., Monday thru Friday. After 4:30p.m. and on weekends, residents may call City Hall at and follow instruction to contact the on call employee. If it is determined that no blockage or restrictions exist in the City s sanitary sewer system, the property owner is advised to contact a professional plumber or drain cleaning service to have the private sewer service inspected. The City cannot make a recommendation for drain cleaning services. A property owner may wish to obtain several estimates. Property owners should be aware, if the problem is in the private sewer line, the private owner is responsible for correcting the problem. The owner of the property is responsible for maintaining and cleaning the sewer line from the building to the City s sewer main, including the connection on the sewer main. Many homeowners insurance policies exclude damage resulting from sewer backups. However, some insurance companies do provide sewer backup coverage. If you are concerned about the possibility of a sewer backup and want to insure that you are covered, the City urges you to check with you home insurer regarding the availability of sewer backup insurance. How to prevent backups in you service line and in the City sewer main Property owners can do many things to prevent their service from backup. Remember, the very same things can help prevent backups in the City main as well. Grease: Cooking oil should be poured into a heat-resistant container and disposed of in the garbage after it cools, not down the drain. Some people assume that washing grease down the drain with hot water is satisfactory. This grease goes down the drain, cools off, and solidifies either in the drain, the property owners, service, or in the sewer main. When this happens, the line eventually clogs. Paper Products: Paper towels, disposable diapers, and feminine products cause many problems in the property owner s service as well as in the main. These products do not deteriorate quickly. They become lodged in portions of the service and main, causing sewer backups. These products should be disposed of in the garbage. Sewer Root Control: the continual flow of nutrient-filled water found in sewer pipes attracts tree roots. Roots growing along pipes exert significant pressure on pipes. These roots may push into and around gasket connection points which may expand and break seals. Root infiltration can cause a blockage to the service resulting in sewage back up in you home and damage to your property.

36 Flyers and Web Site Information on Residential Sanitary Sewer Do s and Don ts

37 SANITARY SEWER Contact Information: City of Watertown Utility Division 700 Lewis Ave North Watertown, MN Telephone: (952) Sanitary Sewer The Utility Division is responsible to inspect and maintain the collection system infrastructure and the sanitary lift stations and ensure uninterrupted collection of wastewater. The City has 24 miles of sanitary sewer lines. Most of the lines are in the street. Some run through utility easements in grassy areas. Each year, the Utility Department cleans approximately one-fifth of the City s sanitary sewer lines. Lines requiring a higher level of maintenance are cleaned semi-annually. This routine maintenance helps to prevent blockages and backups. The sanitary sewer lines are cleaned using high performance sewer cleaning equipment. A cleaning nozzle is propelled from one manhole to the next using water under high pressure. The nozzle is then pulled back to the starting manhole. As the nozzle is pulled back, water scours the inside of the sanitary sewer pipe. Any debris in the pipe is pulled back with the water. The debris is removed from the manhole with a vacuum unit. If roots are found, they are cut with a root cutter. This process is repeated on every sewer line cleaned. Keep Your Toilet Bowl Lid Down! During cleaning of sanitary sewer lines, air occasionally vents into a home through the sanitary sewer lines and ventilation system. When this happens water in the toilet bowl can bubble or surge or, in rare cases, splash out of the bowl. The common causes of air venting into homes during sanitary sewer cleaning are: air movement from normal cleaning operations, the use of high pressure necessary when cleaning sanitary sewer lines that have a steep slope, sewer lines running close to the building, a plugged roof vent, and the size and complexity of the home s waste and ventilation system. So, to minimize water splashing out of your toilet bowl, make it a habit to keep the lid down. Sewer Backups If you have a sewer backup and do not know where the blockage is you should contact the City before contacting a drain cleaning company. You may be able to avoid an unnecessary charge if the problem is in the City s sewer line rather than in you property s service line. A Utilities Division employee will determine if the problem is in the City s line or in your property s service line.

38 (Utility Div.) if Monday - Friday from 8:00a.m. 4:30p.m if after hours, weekends and holidays. The property owner is responsible for cleaning any blockage in the service line between the home and the City sanitary sewer main. This includes debris and tree roots. The property owner is also responsible for cleaning and repairing any damage done to the property by the backup. The City is not automatically liable for blockages in the City s sanitary sewer system. The City is only liable for those damages if the backup was caused by the City s negligence. Most homeowner insurance policies exclude damage resulting from sewer backups. Many insurance providers do have insurance riders that can be purchased to insure loss due to sewer backups. Sanitary sewer line blockages are typically caused by root, grease, and improper disposal of items. Tree roots can enter the sanitary sewer system at the joints and cracks in the sewer service lines and mains. Grease can solidify in the sewer lines and restrict other waste from flowing through. The lines can be blocked by items like disposable diapers, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, washing machine lint, or other items improperly flushed down the drain or toilet. Sewer Repairs The property owner is responsible for any repairs on the service line from the home to, and including, the connection at the property line. In most locations, the City is responsible for repairs within the public road right of way. Sewer Odors Floor and sink drains usually have water filling the bottom of the drain trap which acts as a barrier between the air in the sewer line and the air in your home. When a drain trap becomes dry, sewer odor can enter into the residence. If you experience sewers odors in you home, run water down your drain. Sump Pumps If you use a sump pump in your basement, it is illegal to drain the water into the basement sanitary sewer drain or laundry tub. Sump pumps must be discharged outside of the house to the yard or drain way that will prevent the water from draining directly to the street. Call the Utility Division if you need more information.

39 City of Watertown SEWER BACKUPS What you should know and how you should protect yourself. City of Watertown 700 Lewis Ave N (952) HELP PREVENT BACKUPS The following items should be disposed of in your trash can, NOT in the sanitary sewer system: Diapers Paper towels Cooking grease Food (do NOT use the disposal for all food items) REMINDER Property owners are responsible for the maintenance, repair, and cleaning of the service line from the house to the City main line. FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information, contact the City of Watertown Utilities Division at or visit the City s website at For more information on clean ups, visit the Minnesota Department of Health s website at Occasionally a blockage in a sewer line will result in a backup of sanitary sewage into a private home. If you experience a backup, immediately contact the City of Watertown Utilities Division. The following information will answer the basic questions about what to do if you experience a backup and how to begin cleaning. INSURANCE The City is not automatically responsible when a sewer backup occurs. There are many reasons for backups which the City cannot control. For example, people dumping inappropriate items such as grease or diapers in the system can create a blockage. Tree roots can grow into and obstruct the lines. Generally, the City is responsible only if it was negligent in maintaining the main sewer lines. Sometimes, your homeowners insurance will pay for sewer backups. Not all policies have this coverage and you should check with your agent. If you feel damage occurred as a direct result of the City s negligence, you can file an insurance claim by calling the City.

40 CLEAN UP For large clean ups, you should call a cleaning service. Your insurance carrier might have suggestions on which service to use or you can look in the Yellow Pages. For smaller backups you can clean yourself, use a solution of two tablespoons chlorine bleach in one gallon of water. To reduce health hazards, thoroughly clean the areas affected by the backup as soon as possible. The Minnesota Department of Health suggests the following: Use outside air to dry you home. Open windows and doors and use an exhaust fan to remove moist air from the house. If available, use a room de-humidifier. Empty it often. If your basement is flooded, pump the water in stagesabout one-third per day. Make sure the level of floodwater outside is below the level of the basement floor. If not, do not pump the basement all at once because the saturated soil could cause the basement walls to collapse. Wear a mask to prevent inhaling contaminated dust, especially if you have allergies. Consult you physician if you have questions. Open, clean, decontaminate, and thoroughly dry cavities in walls, floors, and ceilings. Release any water or mud that has been trapped in walls, ceilings or floor cavities. Allow walls to dry from the inside out. Remove moisture and debris from all surfaces and get surface materials dry within hours. Remove all interior wall finishing materials and insulation. Throw out any wet insulation, moist plaster, wallboard and paneling. If think you might have materials containing asbestos in your home, call the Minnesota Department of Health at If any materials are still wet or moist after hours, you should assume they have mold growing on them. WET FLOORS OF HARDWOOD Remove all moisture or debris. Scrub floors and woodwork within 48 hours using a stiff brush, water, detergent, and disinfectant. Allow all wood to dry thoroughly. WET FURNITURE Discard upholstered furniture if it has been exposed to water or contaminated material. Clean, rinse and disinfect wood furniture. Place wood furniture outside in a shady area so it will dry slowly. WET APPLIANCES If your hot water heater became wet due to flooding, it should be discarded. The insulation typically cant be replaced and the burner or heating element might become damaged and could cause an explosion or fire if used. If in doubt consult a service professional before using. If the furnace was flooded, have it inspected and services by a professional furnace service before using. RECORD KEEPING Take pictures of damages for your records. Keep all receipts for all work done. Write a description of the extent of damage. Record date and time of occurrence and not which sewer areas surcharged-floor drain, lower level toilet, laundry tub and the like. FOOD Throw out of any opened or packages food that are not waterproof. Commercially canned foods can be salvages if the labels are removed and the cans thoroughly washed. The cans should be disinfected by wiping the entire surface with a laundry bleach and water mixture and rinsed with clear water. Home-canned foord require additional care. After the jars containing home canned foods have been washed and disinfected, the jars should be boiled for ten minutes before using. INCOME ANALYSIS CLOTHING/HOUSEHOLD Line-dry all articles before attempting to clean or treat them. After drying, brush off loose dirt and debris. Send dry clean only items to a professional cleaner. Wash clothes several times in hot water. Add up to a cup of bleach per load of wash if it will not harm the clothing. Rinse and dry all items as soon as possible. Throw out mattresses and pillows. WET CARPETING Pull up waterlogged carpet immediately to prevent further floor damage. Carpet pads cannot be saved. Remove the pads and throw them away. Attempt to save carpets or throw rugs only if they would be very expensive to replace. Clean and dry you floors thoroughly before recarpeting.

41 Are you Prepared for a Sewer Backup? Sewer backups happen. If you ve ever experienced one, you know there s a lot of time and money spent to correct the damage caused by the backup. Sanitary sewer line blockages are typically caused by roots, grease, and improper disposal of items. Tree roots can enter the sanitary sewer system at joints and cracks in the sewer lines and mains. Grease can solidify in the sewer lines and restrict other waste from through. The lines can be blocked by disposable diapers, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, washing machine lint, or similar items that might get flushed down the drain or toilet. As a resident, you play an important role in keeping the City s main line and your own private sewer line clean and clear of blockages. The following items should be disposed of in your trash can, NOT in the sanitary sewer system. Diapers Sanitary Napkins Rags or shop towels Garage waste such as oil, grease, gasoline and antifreeze Household waste such as ashes, corrosives, glass, metals, paint, poisons or solvents Yard waste such as sand, soil or mud If a sewer backup occurs on your property, the City encourages you to take the following steps: 1. Call the City immediately at to report the sewer backup. The City will work with you to identify the location of the blockage. If the blockage is in one of the City s main sewer lines, the city will attempt to clear the blockage. 2. Make arrangements for the blockage to be cleared if it is determined to be within the lateral line of your sewer system. Which is from and including your

42 home to the city s sewer main system. Remember, you are responsible for scheduling and paying for service to clear such a blockage. 3. If you have homeowners or another type of property insurance coverage, notify your insurance agent of the sewer backup to see if such a claim is covered. 4. Clean the entire contaminated area in a safe and professional manner. It s a good idea to use the services of a reputable company experienced in cleaning up after sewer backups. 5. Document the actions you take(calls, contacts, costs) in response to the sewer backup. If you have further questions, call City Hall at

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46 The City of Watertown Utility Department provides for the operation, maintenance, and treatment of wastewater to an environmentally safe level of returning the water back to the ecological system. The City of Watertown has 24 miles of sanitary sewer mains. Each year about one-fifth of the City s sanitary sewer mains are inspected and cleaned. Mains requiring a higher level of maintenance are cleaned semi-annually. This routine helps to prevent blockages and sewer backups. As a resident, you can play a key role in preventing sanitary sewer backups. To help prevent backups, please dispose of the following items properly, not by dumping in a drain or flushing down the toilet: Diapers Baby wipes or paper towels Sanitary Napkins Rags or shop towels Garage waste such as oil, grease, gasoline or antifreeze Household waste such as ashes, grease, corrosives, glass, metals, paints, poisons, or solvents Yard waste such as sand, soil, or mud Inflow and infiltration (I&I) is also a potential cause of sewer backups. I&I refers to clear water getting into the sanitary sewer system. This might occur through cracks or leaks in sewer pipes and manholes or from sump pumps incorrectly connected to the sanitary sewer system. Particularly during large rain events, I&I can cause the sanitary sewer system to overflow resulting in sewer backups. Because of the potential for I&I to create system issues, City ordinance prohibits property owner s form disposing of clear water into the sanitary sewer system. This includes water from any roof, surface or ground sump pump, foundation drain, or swimming pool. Sanitary sewer problems should be reported to the City of Watertown s Utility Department. The City will work with you to identify the cause of the problem. If there is a blockage in one of the City s main sewer lines, the City will attempt to clear the blockage. The sewer line from your home, business or other property to the City sewer main is your responsibility. That means that you as the property owner are responsible for clearing any blockages. Property owners must schedule service and pay the cost of clearing any blockage located in the individual sewer line on their property. If you have any questions regarding the City s sanitary sewer maintenance program, sewer backup response or a specific incident, please contact the Utility Department at , Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30 pm. Outside regular business hours, emergencies please call and then follow instructions on the phone to contact on call person.