The City of Republic has instituted a program for removal of "illegal" connections to the sanitary sewer system. Included here are answers to the questions typically asked about the program.

What is a sanitary sewer?

A sanitary sewer is a pipe located in the City Right-of-Way that is designed solely to transport wastewater from sanitary fixtures and floor drains inside your house or place of business to the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant. Sanitary sewers in your neighborhood are owned, operated and maintained by the City of Republic.

What is a storm sewer?

A storm sewer is a pipe located in the City Right-of-Way that is designed to carry storm-related water runoff. Storm sewers are normally much larger than sanitary sewers because they are designed to carry much larger amounts of flow. Storm sewers are owned, operated and maintained by the City of Republic.

What is a surcharged sewer?

A surcharged sewer, is when the sewer line cannot release the amount of water (or sewage) fast enough, that it begins to back up into the sewer system and/or privately owned lines.
Surcharged sewers can be from mainly three different causes;

1. Extraneous water entering the system through illegal connections
2. Restrictions in the City owned sanitary sewer lines or privately owned lines.  These restrictions can be can caused by a total or partial collapse in the pipes, misaligned joints, intrusion of tree roots, grease and oil products, and miscellaneous items that make their way into the sewer system.
3. Or a combination of the two items above.

What is an illegal connection?

An illegal connection is a connection that permits extraneous storm-related water (water from sources other than sanitary fixtures and floor drains) to enter the sanitary sewer system. The extraneous storm-related water is water that should be going to the storm sewer or allowed to soak into the ground without entering the sanitary sewer. Water from drain lines of swimming pools, condensation of air conditioning systems, refridgerations systems or de-humidfiers are also restricted from entry into the sanitary sewer system.

What are the different types of illegal connections?

Illegal connections include connections of downspouts, sump pumps and area drains to the house sewer lines. This means any physical connection that allows water from precipitation events into the sanitary sewer system are prohibited.  In addition, defective house sewer lines cause extraneous water to enter the sanitary sewers and thus they are also illegal connections. .  In addition illegal connections per City Ordinances also include swimming pool drain lines, condensation lines from air conditioning, refridgerators and de-humidifers units.

Where should storm drainage from downspouts, sump pump, and / or other drain appurtenances be directed if it can't be discharged to the sanitary sewer?

Modern subdivision construction standards generally call for water from sump pump, area drains and the like to be diverted to the storm sewers, front or back yards or above ground drainage ditches.

Why is it important for everyone to remove illegal connections?

Removal of illegal connections will significantly reduce the flow of extraneous storm-related water in the sanitary sewer system. This stormwater ends up at the wastewater treatment plant and is treated along with sanitary flow. The cost of treating this clean water could be reduced by reducing the quantity of water from the sanitary sewer. The removal of this water can also extend the life of the wastewater treatment system.  It also can help reduce the amount of backups of sewer in City owned lines and privately owned lines.

How can surcharged sanitary sewers cause flooding of my home or business?

A surcharged sewer flows at a level greater than the "normal" level. If the home has sanitary fixtures or floor drains at an elevation below the surcharge level, flooding  can occur. Basements are particurly susceptible to this. The sanitary sewers have been designed to transfer sanitary waste only. Extraneous storm water flow added to the normal sanitary flow can exceed the capacity of the sanitary sewer resulting in a situation where the sanitary sewer is "surcharged." Basically, surcharging occurs when the amount of flow trying to get through a pipe exceeds the maximum capacity of the pipe thus backing up in the system (surcharging). When surcharging occurs, it seeks to relieve itself at the lowest relief point on the system.  If you home or bussiness has drainage fixtures which are lower than the nearest upstream manhole, flooding of basements and crawlspaces or your home or business can occur.  Reducing the extraneous flow will reduce the surcharging and sewer back-ups.
Be aware that you don’t have to have a basement to be flooded by surcharged sewers.  If elevations of your lowest drainage fixture is lower than the elevation of the nearest upstream manhole, you can likely experience a flooding situation.

How can I help prevent flooding of my home or business?

If you believe that your lowest drainage fixture is lower than the nearest upstream manhole, the installation of a backwater valve or a backflow prevention valve can help prevent this.  A backwater valve allows sewage to flow only in one direction.  If  a surcharge condition does develop, it will help prevent the reverse flow of sewage from backing up into your home or business.
City Codes and the International Plumbing Code requires the installation of a backwater valve if your lowest drainage fixture is lower than the nearest upstream manhole for either new construction or repair work.

Do illegal connections really contribute large amounts of extraneous water to the sanitary sewer system?

Yes. For example, an eight-inch sanitary sewer can handle domestic water flow from up to 465 homes; however, it takes only twelve sump pumps operating at full capacity to overload an eight-inch sanitary sewer.

How does the City of Republic identify illegal connections?

The City can find some illegal connects through work in the field, which can include Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Inspection, smoke testing, dye testing, flow monitoring, inspections and through reports made by citizens.

If I have an illegal connection what do I do to correct it?

It is suggested that you consult a licensed plumber to determine the most appropriate methods of removing or repairing a specific illegal connection.  

The following are some possible solutions:

1. The sump pipe could be run overland to a ditch, street gutter or swale that could drain to another location. The sump pump can be run underground through a 4" or 6" diameter perforated PVC pipe, with holes at the bottom and backfilled with washed gravel. An overflow tube should be placed at the opposite end to allow the water to escape in the event that the volume of the pipe is exceeded.
2. Route the sump pump to a surface discharge or into the City storm sewer.
3. Disconnect gutters, downspouts or area drains from the sewer drainage system.
4. Disconnect any condensation lines.
5. Repair privately owned sewer lines as required.

I've never had flooding due to surcharged sewer. Why should I remove my illegal connections?

You may not have flooding due to surcharged sewers. But if your plumbing pumps or drains storm-related water into the sanitary sewer, it may well be the cause of flooding in your neighbor's basement.

Is the requirement to remove illegal connections unique to Republic?

No. In response to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, local governments have adopted ordinances or codes prohibiting the intrusion of extraneous storm-related water into sanitary sewers. The City of Republic has very strict regulations to reduce extraneous flows to sanitary sewers.

Questions?

Call the Republic Public Works Department at (417) 732-3400.