Preventative Measures
you can take to practice good
“Lateral Hygiene”
- Periodically have your sewer lateral
video inspected and cleaned.
- Repair or replace deteriorated or
damaged lateral pipes as soon as possible.
- Do not plant trees or large scrubs
above sewer lateral lines.
- Never pour grease down a drain.
Let it cool down and dispose of in the trash.
- Scrape food off your dishes into the
trash before rinsing off into the sink.
Problems to Look for:
-
Drain back ups inside your house or
business.
-
Wet or soggy ground in your yard.
-
Water leaking from cleanouts or
outside drains.
-
Unusual odors or sewage smells in or
around your home or business.
For more information
about the City’s program please call the Water Quality Department at
(949) 497-0378.
History of the Program
The Laguna Beach
City Council approved a Private Sewer Lateral Program in May of 2004.
For over a year, the City worked with the community and plumbers to
develop the program to address problems caused by roots from private
sewer laterals. The program covers the City’s sewer service area
to Nyes Place. Property owners south of Nyes Place should contact the
South Coast Water District (SCWD) at (949) 499-4555 or visit their
website at www.scwd.org to learn about the SCWD private sewer lateral program.
The City has found
that roots entering the City pipes from private laterals are causing
blockages and sewer spills. The program is needed to address
regulatory agency concerns regarding sewage spills and because a spill
can create health hazards and pollute waterways and the ocean. The
program is essentially an “awareness” program. Owners will have
the option of maintaining their laterals in a functional condition
through routine cleaning or by repairing or replacing their pipes.
Property owners will be sent a notice and made aware of deficiencies in
their sewer laterals if observed during maintenance of the public sewer
main lines. A video inspection is also required as part of a major
home or business remodeling project, and every five years for commonly
owned properties, such as condominiums and apartments. The City
will maintain a list of “Participating Plumbing Companies” that property
owners may call to have their lateral video inspected and the condition
of their sewer lateral line evaluated. The list is available on the
program website menu. However, a property owner may choose to use
any licensed plumbing company they like.
The proper maintenance of a private sewer
lateral is important because your line can clog with roots and grease
and can cause a backup inside your property or a spill from the line.
A sewage spill can cause damage to your property that is expensive to
fix. In addition, a spill may cause public and/or environmental
health concerns. |
