The Conveyance System Maintenance crew cleans and inspects all the City's wastewater and storm lines as well as makes repairs.

Cleaning the lines clear blockages and keep water flowing through the sewer lines.  A vacuum truck is used for cleaning by pushing water under high pressure through the lines and can remove obstructions.  Specialized cameras and video equipment are used to inspect the lines and monitor the condition of the sewer and storm lines.

Maintenance and repair of the sewer lines is critical to limit the excess rainwater and ground water that can infiltrate the lines through cracks and breaks, as well as preventing blockages and sewer back-ups.  Blockages can cause sewer back-ups to occur in which wastewater can flow untreated back into houses.  Large amounts of rainwater can overload the wastewater conveyance system and the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), and cause inadequate treatment or actual raw sewage to overflow directly into local rivers and streams.

Sewer lines or private laterals that connect houses, apartments and other building to the City's sewer lines are the responsibility of the property owner.  For more information regarding private sewer lines, see Frequently Asked Questions and Sewer Backup in PDF format.