Sewer
The City's Sewer Collection & Treatment System
The City's sewer (wastewater) collection and treatment system collects, treats and disposes of domestic and industrial wastewater generated within the City. Once wastewater has been treated, it is used to recharge groundwater. While the current capacity of the system is adequate, the City is aggressively moving to further increase capacity in order to allow for future growth, and other increases in its use. The City is also continually working to repair, replace and clean the sewer mains in order to prevent sewer overflows, and provide the best possible sewer service.
The Maintenance Division is responsible for maintaining the sewer system from the sewer mains and manholes in the streets, up to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is responsible for safely and efficiently treating the wastewater that it receives, and properly disposing of the waste that cannot be treated.
Customers, Inflow & Infiltration
Customer Maintenance Responsibilities
Sewer system customers and users play an important role in helping maintain the sewer collection systems. Property owners are responsible for maintaining their sewer laterals from their property up to and including the connection to the sewer main in the street.
Inflow & Infiltration
Inflow and infiltration, by allowing extra uncontaminated water into a sewer system, can decrease efficiency of the system, which increases the cost of treatment. They can also overwhelm the system during big storms, which may cause sewer overflows and other hazards.
Inflow is when storm water (rainwater) enters the sewer collection system through prohibited connections of a roof, yard or basement drain into the sewer system. If your property has a connection like this, you will need to remove the connection right away.
Infiltration is when groundwater enters into the sewer system via loose joints and connections or through cracked or otherwise broken pipes. Properly maintaining your sewer lateral plays an extremely important role in the overall maintenance of the sewer collection system.