Customer Water and Sewer Line Responsibility

 

Customers are often surprised to learn they are responsible for maintaining the water and sewer lines located on their property. These customer lines are generally the ones that break and leak. This lesson was learned by many residents during the extreme freezing temperatures experienced this winter that caused many customer water lines to break and leak water.

Water Lines - The District owns and maintains the water lines up to and including the water meter. Angle stops and water meters are owned by the District and may not be used to turn water off and on at your home. Use of an angle stop requires a special tool and using a wrench will damage the equipment. The property owner is responsible for the water service line from the meter to the home.

Protecting all exposed water lines on the outside of your home is critical to preventing freeze breaks. Installing a customer water valve is important to provide a method to turn water off and on. The District provides ball valves to customers for installation on their water service line.

Sewer Lines - The District is responsible for the main sewer lines generally located in the streets or public utility easements. Customers are responsible for the sewer lateral that extends from the home to the main sewer line. Blocked and clogged sewer laterals are the main cause of sewer overflows. Grease and solids buildup and root infestation are the leading reasons why laterals become clogged.

The best way to avoid a clogged sewer lateral is to not put solid materials and grease down your kitchen drain or toilets. Plastics and dental floss do not break down and will clog sewer lines. Periodic cleaning of your lateral through the sewer clean-out will flush trapped materials and prevent blockage.

If you have a leak or are doing work on your property that requires digging, State law requires you to notify Underground Service Alert (1-800-642-2444). Underground Service Alert is a free service that will notify all utilities to mark their utility lines. You may be fined if you fail to give this notification and damage any public utilities.