HomeMy Public PortalAboutSewer Blockage (PDF)TOWN OF WATERTOWN
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
124 ORCHARD STREET
WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS 02472
Tel: 617-972-6420
Fax: 617-972-6402
Department of Public Works Sewer Blockage Prevention
Sewerage backing up through the sewer system in your home or
business is a very unpleasant situation. However, there are steps you
can take to prevent it from happening to you.
A number of causes could be responsible for the sewer blockage.
Some of the causes include:
• Kitchen grease, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and even
the accumulation of some types of cleaning materials and
detergents can lead to a blockage.
• Tree roots are a big problem, especially with older sewer lines,
as they will grow through cracks in the line to seek water.
• Illegal hookups to the sewer will allow excess water into the
lines. Rain gutters and sump pumps should never be hooked into
the sewer system. The Town's sewer system is only designed to
accommodate a certain amount of water, and rainwater, during
periods of heavy rain. Illegal hookups overload the system and
cause problems.
Hopefully you will never have a problem with a sewer blockage.
However, if you do, you can minimize the damage to your property by
taking the following preventative measures:
• Do make sure you have a sewer cleanout and that it is
readily accessible.
• Do consider having a plumber install a backflow valve.
Inspect and maintain it regularly.
• All existing or new building drains from plumbing fixtures
liable to backflow from a DPW sewer, or a private sewer
connected to DPW sewer, shall be required to have
backwater valves installed at the owner's expense. Any
plumbing fixture located at an elevation below the top of
the manhole on the DPW sewer serving the fixture shall be
considered to be liable to backflow. Backflow valves shall
be installed in accordance with 248 CMR Section 2.09(4) of
the Uniform State Plumbing Code.