Metro Lex News

Sanitary sewer cleanings, inspections March 13 – 25

Residents on the streets listed below may see vehicles, work crews, and small equipment. Work crews will be wearing reflective vests and appropriate identification. Certain conditions may cause this schedule to change.

West Hickman 6 Council District 5

Adair Rd

Blairmore Ct

Blairmore Rd

Bristol Rd

Cooper Dr

Eastwood Dr

Eastwood Ln

Essex Park

Fielden Dr

Glenhill Dr

Hampshire Pl

Harmony Hall Ln

Hart Ct

Hart Rd

Lakes Edge Dr

Lakeshore Dr

Laketower Dr

Lakewood Ct

Lakewood Dr

Lakewood Ln

Manor Dr

Mooreland Dr

Prather Rd

Von List Ct

Von List Way

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

Cleaning sewers is performed with a high pressure water stream through a hose using various nozzles appropriate for the type of sewer pipe cleaning (roots, grease, etc.). The debris washed from the pipe is collected at another manhole through a suction hose, or other means. The equipment used is called a Vactor (vac) truck and you may have seen them before or within your community.

During the cleaning process, sewer lines can develop air pressure or a partial vacuum from the cleaning process. Usually any excess air pressure or vacuum will dissipate through the plumbing vents. But occasionally in some cases air pressure could escape through the toilet, floor, sink, tub or shower drains, causing water to splash out or, a vacuum could draw the water out of the fixture traps causing and unpleasant odor. This is called a “blow-back.”

What can I do to prevent “blow-back” into my home when cleaning is being performed in nearby sewers?

To minimize the chance of “blow back” cover all floor drains with plastic and place a weight on the plastic, cover all toilets with plastic and close the lid on the plastic, and for odor, run water into each drain to refill the traps.

The actual cleaning process from manhole to manhole does not take too long although you may see equipment in the area for longer periods due to equipment set up and tear down. The cleaning that could affect your home should not be longer than a few hours.

What to do if you experience a “blow-back”?

As an important first step, please immediately contact LFUCG operators at 311. This will initiate an investigation that will involve a crew foreman from the contractor (or designee) visiting your home to confirm if cleaning was the cause. If necessary the contractor will provide prompt and thorough clean up. This will require the removal of any debris, the cleaning of surfaces with a soap solution and the disinfection of hard surfaces with a diluted household bleach/water solution. Regular household cleaning products are all that is needed. Rubber gloves are recommended.

Typically, recovery from a ‘blow back’ event is simply a matter of removing any debris and the cleaning of toilets, sinks, baths, showers, that may have been impacted. You may then continue normal use.

Original source can be found here.