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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is "Orangeburg pipe" and do I have it? View Answer
- Sanitary sewers: where does City’s responsibility end and property owner’s responsibility begin? View Answer
- There’s an odor inside my house, what is it? View Answer
- There’s an odor outside, what is it? View Answer
- What caused water to gush from my toilet? View Answer
- What can be done about the large opening on the storm sewer intake? It doesn’t seem safe for children. View Answer
- What should be done about kids playing in storm sewers? View Answer
- My sewer line backed up. I called a plumber, but it turned out to be a problem in the City’s line. Who is going to pay for my clean up? View Answer
- Will someone help me retrieve keys (or other items) that I’ve dropped into a storm sewer intake? View Answer
- Who could help retrieve an animal from storm sewer or sanitary sewer? View Answer
- What will be done about a loud or rattling manhole lid? View Answer
- What will be done about damage to my car caused by a sanitary or storm sewer manhole? View Answer
- I am currently on a septic system but would like to connect to City sewer. Is City sewer available in my area? View Answer
- If sewer is not available, when will it be extended? View Answer
- What is "Orangeburg pipe" and do I have it?
Orangeburg pipe is a type of pipe that was commonly used from around 1950 to around 1970. It is a paper tape type pipe impregnated with tar and pressed together. It is susceptible to damage by tree roots and has a tendency to collapse with age.
The Building Department can pull plumbing permits and check date of service line installation if a permit was acquired for sewer work at a property. Neither the Building Department nor Sewer Maintenance will have type of material used or how much was replaced. To determine if you have Orangeburg, you could have the service line televised by a plumber or have the line dug up and exposed.
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- Sanitary sewers: where does City’s responsibility end and property owner’s responsibility begin?
The private building sewer extends from the interior plumbing of the building to where the pipe connects to the public sewer main, most frequently located in the center of street or alley. See the diagram for a visual representation.
View larger diagram
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- There’s an odor inside my house, what is it?
The odor could be from a natural gas leak or sewer gasses. If it is a natural gas leak, leave immediately and contact the gas company. If you smell sewer gas, check to see if all sewer traps are filled with water and check to see if the cap on sewer cleanout is tight. If the trap is dry, at least 4 cups of water are needed to provide a seal in the U of the drain, preventing the sewer gas odors from entering the house. If the sewer gas smell persists, call your plumber and have your system checked.
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- There’s an odor outside, what is it?
Outside odors can be caused by a variety of different things and are affected by atmospheric conditions. If you can detect the source and suspect that it is sewer gas, contact Sewer Maintenance and we will investigate.
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- What caused water to gush from my toilet?
This condition can be the result of preventative sewer maintenance activities. Sewer mains are cleaned from the inside of the pipe by using high-pressure water. Occasionally this can cause a surge in the service line. Conditions in a service line that could result in a pressure surcharge during cleaning are services connected low to the sewer main and “flat” (less than desirable fall or slope) service lines.
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- What can be done about the large opening on the storm sewer intake? It doesn’t seem safe for children.
Contact Sewer Maintenance with address and location. A staff person will be sent out to investigate. If a bar is missing or if opening size is greater than 6 inches, Sewer Maintenance will schedule work to have the problem corrected. Reducing the opening more than this will restrict the flow of rainwater and street flooding becomes a concern.
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- What should be done about kids playing in storm sewers?
Entry into the storm sewer (and sanitary sewer) system by unauthorized persons is prohibited. Contact the Police Department or Sewer Maintenance. Sanitary Sewer and Storm Sewer systems are potentially dangerous and entry is allowed only by persons specifically trained for this type of activity.
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- My sewer line backed up. I called a plumber, but it turned out to be a problem in the City’s line. Who is going to pay for my clean up?
Contact the Risk Manager in Audit Department.
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- Will someone help me retrieve keys (or other items) that I’ve dropped into a storm sewer intake?
Contact Sewer Maintenance during normal working hours (7:00 AM to 3:15 PM) and crews will be dispatched to help try to retrieve.
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- Who could help retrieve an animal from storm sewer or sanitary sewer?
Contact Animal Control at (319) 848-7373.
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- What will be done about a loud or rattling manhole lid?
Contact Sewer Maintenance during normal working hours (7:00 AM - 3:15 PM) and crews will be dispatched. Crew will investigate and make adjustments if necessary.
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- What will be done about damage to my car caused by a sanitary or storm sewer manhole?
Contact the Risk Manager in Audit Department.
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- I am currently on a septic system but would like to connect to City sewer. Is City sewer available in my area?
Sewer maps and drawings are maintained in the Engineering Department. Contact the Engineering Department at (319) 286-5802 for assistance.
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- If sewer is not available, when will it be extended?
Contact the Engineering Department for assistance. If a project is not already included in the capital improvement program, you can request that sanitary sewer be extended. A project will then be added to the capital improvement program. Approval and funding of the project will depend on many variables such as feasibility of extension, overall cost, number of benefited properties, available funding, environmental benefit, etc.
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