POLICY STATEMENT 1

SEWER SERVICE BLOCKAGES

Prepared by: Kim Fisher

Supersedes: 09/13/1990

Adopted by Council: 5/26/2005

Effective: 5/26/2005

POLICY PURPOSE:

The purpose is to adopt an official policy that will establish the responsibility of the Town and the property owner for blockages in sewer service lines.

COVERAGE:

This policy, upon adoption by the Town Council, shall be applicable to all properties that are served by the Cary Wastewater Treatment System until such time as the policy statement is altered, modified, or rescinded by the Town Council.

POLICY:

The Town’s ownership of the wastewater collection and treatment systems in the Town of Cary and its responsibilities to protect the health and welfare of the citizens of Cary require the Town to assure that blockages in sewer service lines are cleared as quickly as possible.

Sewer service lines are the responsibility of the property owner up to and including the sewer clean-out on the Town-owned right-of-way.  Where no clean-out exists, the property owner is solely responsible for the sewer service line up to and including where it is connected into the sewer main. The sewer service line is defined as the length of sewer line that connects a residence or other structure with the sewer main including the clean-out, clean-out cap and any other appurtenances attached thereto. The Town of Cary is responsible for the service line, excluding the clean-out, from the bottom of the clean-out to the sewer main line.

It is the responsibility of each property owner who has a structure connected to the Town wastewater treatment system to make sure the sewer service line is installed properly and is maintained in proper working condition. Property owners are responsible for ensuring clean-outs on the right-of-way are visible. Town employees will not attempt to locate clean-outs that are not visible (broken off, buried, hidden, etc.).

The Department of Public Works and Utilities of the Town of Cary will respond to calls for service for sewer service line blockages.  The actions taken by the Department of Public Works and Utilities to clear the blockages and the responsibility for the costs associated with such service will be governed by Standard Procedure No. 92 entitled Standard Procedure on Sewer Service Line Blockages.

The Town will bear the cost of clearing a blockage in a sewer service line if a clean-out exists on the Town-owned right-of-way.  The Town will take whatever action may be necessary to clear the blockage. The property owner will bear the cost of all work done if the blockage requires repair of the service line from the property up to and including the sewer clean-out on the right-of-way.

The property owner is responsible for bearing the cost of clearing blockages to include replacement of sewer service lines to the sewer main line when no sewer clean-out exists on the Town-owned right-of-way. Property owners are responsible for installation of back water valves and other devices that may be required when plumbing appurtenances on the property are installed lower than existing sewerage mains and subject to flooding during high flow periods or when a blockage exists in the sewer main line.