Immediate Release
November 12, 2009
Batavia, Ohio. “We haven’t found any alligators, but we do see a large number of tree roots, even jewelry, toy cars, and tooth brushes in the county sanitary sewer system,” said John McManus, program manager for the Clermont County Storm Water Management Office. He’s encouraging us to be extra careful when it comes to items flushed or poured down the drain, and to have a licensed plumber check the condition of the building sewer, especially if the building is old. “Throughout the county we are seeing household items, tree roots, ground water, and storm water winding up in sanitary sewers. Too much of this can rob the sanitary sewer system of its ability to carry wastewater. When that happens, homeowners can experience a backup of sewage in basements and sewage overflows through manholes, thus resulting in increased maintenance costs for all of us.”
Sanitary sewers and storm sewers are designed to operate separately, and the two should never mix. When storm water and ground water winds up in the sanitary sewer, it is described as inflow and infiltration (I & I). “The Water Resources Department has a number of tools to identify and eliminate sources of I & I,” said McManus. “We have a sewer camera that can be sent into manholes to check for problems, we use smoke and dye testing to search for leaks, and we visually inspect manholes for the 500 miles of sewers that wind throughout Clermont County. It is a large undertaking and we need homeowners help and assistance.”
If a problem is found in a sanitary lateral that is on the homeowner’s side of the right-of-way for the sewer, the problem must be corrected by the homeowner. If there is a problem in the main lines, the county is most often tasked with repairing the problem. “If you know you have a sump pump, roof drain, or foundation drain connected to the sanitary sewer system, disconnect it,” said McManus. “If you are not sure how to disconnect it, contact the Water Resources Department at (513) 732-7880, and we will check it for you at no cost.” For more information about I & I and how it impacts Clermont County sanitary sewers, visit the Web site www.wrd.clermontcountyohio.gov.
Pictured above: Tom Weissman with the Clermont Water Resources Department prepares to place a video camera into a sanitary storm sewer in Union Township to check the lines for cracks or blockages.
#
For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathryn Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@co.clermont.oh.us.