The City of Cedar Rapids is not able to certify if the replacement of Orangeburg has occurred on a private sewer line.  Please contact a certified plumber for an inspection.

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 the street or alley.

The odor could be from a natural gas leak or sewer gases. 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.

Outside odors can be caused by a variety of reasons and are affected by atmospheric conditions. If you can detect the source and suspect that it is sewer gas, contact Sewer Maintenance at (319) 286-5815 and we will investigate.

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.

Contact Sewer Maintenance at (319) 286-5815 and provide the address and location. A staff person will be sent out to investigate. If a bar is missing or if the 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, causing street flooding to become a concern.

Entry into the storm sewer (and sanitary sewer) system by unauthorized persons is prohibited. Contact the Police Department or Sewer Maintenance at (319) 286-5815. Sanitary Sewer and Storm Sewer systems are potentially dangerous and entry is allowed only by persons specifically trained for this type of activity.

Contact the Risk Manager in the Audit Department.

Contact Sewer Maintenance at (319) 286-5815, during normal working hours (7 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.), and crews will be dispatched to help try to retrieve the item.

Contact Animal Control at (319) 848-7373.