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Questions and Answers: SEWER
1. My basement is backed
up with sewage. Whom should I call; what should I do?
Call MTMA (Moon Township Municipal Authority) at 412-264-4300 during office hours or Moon
Township Police after office hours at 412-262-5000.
Several questions that you might consider when trying to
determine the possible cause of a sewer problem/stoppage
are:
1. Is the problem with an individual fixture such as the
kitchen sink? If so, you may attempt to clear the blockage
yourself or contact a plumber/sewer drain cleaner.
2. Is the problem with a commode located above the lowest
level (floor) of the building? If yes, you may attempt to
clear the blockage yourself or contact a registered
plumber/sewer drain cleaner.
3. Is the problem with the lowest facility (toilet, shower,
floor drain, or laundry tub in the house/building? If yes,
contact MTMA to investigate.
4. Is the service backing up constantly, even when the
occupants on the premises are not using the facilities? If
yes, contact MTMA to investigate.
When a sewer bacup is not in the lowest
level plumbing fixtures, we suggest you contact a registered
plumber or sewer drain cleaner for assistance with the
problem. An upstairs sewage blockage, when lower level
drains function, indicates the problem is at that fixture or
within the homes plumbing. If you are unsure, please contact MTMA for
assistance.
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2. What is a sewer
lateral (service) and for what portion am I responsible?
The contractor installing the sewer main generally installs
the sewer service from the main to the property line or
easement limit. MTMA is responsible for maintaining the
individual sewer service (lateral) from the main to the
property line. Service lines (laterals) are generally 4" or
6" for private homes. The service line, from the property
line to the house and sewer pipes within the house, are the
responsibility of the homeowner.
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3. Whom should I call
about sewer odor?
An obstruction in the main (in the street) or service line
can cause sewer odor where gases are trapped, but a backup
is not occurring. The gases can escape through manholes or
the drains in customers' homes or buildings. Unless the odor
is isolated to one fixture or in an upper bathroom only,
call MTMA to investigate.
Sewer odor can be caused because floor drain traps or
plumbing fixture traps are empty.
Please turn your water on at each sink and let it run for 15 seconds.
This will ensure that there is water in the plumbing fixture
traps.
Also, add approximately 2 cups of water to your floor drains.
If the floor drain is dry, sewer gas can get into the house and cause an odor problem.
If you're leaving the house for an extended period, ensure
that the toilet bowls, fixture traps, and floor drain traps
have water in them.
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4. What causes sewer
clogs/backups?
There are several causes of clogged sewers. Flushing
of wipes, diapers, and feminine hygine products are a modern
cause of sewer clogs. No wipes, diapers, or hygine
products are flushable. In our area, one
of the main causes is roots from trees that may enter at the
joints of pipes or cracks in older pipe. (Roots seek water
and they often force their way right through the cracks in
the pipe.) Also, broken pipe may allow soil to enter and
cause a problem. Grease is also a main cause of clogged
sewers. Introduced into the sewer lines by occupants, grease can
harden or collect resulting in stoppages and backups.
Don't pour grease into a sink drain or garbage disposal.
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5. What can I do to
prevent mainline sewer backups?
Be careful what you put down the drain. Several Items that
should not be put into your sewer system are: wipes,
feminine hygine products, paper towels,
diapers, grease, paints/solvents, chemicals, antifreeze,
oils, and any item that will not dissolve. Please
deposit grease, food scraps, wipes, diapers, and feminine
hygine products in the trash for disposal.
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6. What are manholes?
Where are they located?
MTMA and other utilities use manholes to access our
underground infrastructure. Our crews also use manholes to
clear stoppages. Manholes are located in the street, right
of way, or in a MTMA utility easement. Please do not
block access to or bury manholes.
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7. What is a clean out?
Where is it located?
A clean out is an entry point into the sewer main or service line that is
used to clear the line of any obstruction. A clean out can
be located either inside or outside of a house/building. MTMA maintains sewer main clean outs
only. The maintenance of any cleanout located inside a
building or on the owner's service lateral is the owner's
responsibility. Be careful not to damage or bury
cleanouts.
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8. What is a sewer site
tee?
Newer sewer service lines have a riser pipe at the property
line or limit of the utility easement to separate the MTMA
portion of the service line from the customer owned portion
of the sewer service line. These have been installed
on new service lines since 1996.
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