SEWER RATEPAYER RESPONSIBILITIES
The District is responsible for repair to the pipes that go from your property line to the public water main and sewers. The service lines and pipes that run from the property line to your home are the homeowner's responsibility. If a service line break or clog happens on the homeowner's property, the homeowner is responsible for the repair or replacement costs. The ratepayer is responsible to maintain flow through the lateral to the main. If a clog happens in the lower lateral it is also the homeowner's responsibility.
Did you know that YOU, as a homeowner, have a responsibility with maintaining the sewer system?
Sewer backups can cause tremendous damage to the interior of a home. In order to minimize these, the District provides continual maintenance service for the public sewer mainlines. Sewer laterals are entirely owned by the private property owner they serve. Unfortunately, sewer laterals are often not maintained by property owners until a disaster strikes. It is our hope that we can provide you various means of addressing these issues, thus, minimizing your risk of an overflow entering your home.
Here are a few important tips you can follow to help keep your and the community sewer systems flowing freely:
Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG)
One of the most important things you can do to keep your sewer pipes clear is to properly dispose of fats, oils, and grease by following these easy steps:
- Can it - Once cooled, pour leftover oils and grease into a sturdy container, like an empty coffee can or glass jar.
- Scrape it - Before washing, scrape out fats, oils, and grease residuals from pots, pans, and dishes.
- Trash it - Put fatty and greasy food scraps in the garbage, not down the drain.
Things to Avoid
- Disposing of coffee grounds, egg shells, kitty litter, and disposable wipes down your sink and toilet drains.
- Any discharges with scalding termperatures are also potentially harmful to the pipes.
No Wipes in the Pipes
Disposable disinfectant wipes, baby wipes, and even so-called "flushable" wipes cause serious problems for the sewer system, as they do not break down once flushed. Please don't flush them, trash them instead!
Sewer concerns? Call the District first!
If you experience a sewer backup and have HCSD sewer services, call us before a plumber. HCSD will come out and check your sewer lines to learn if the problem is on your side of the clean out, or on our side. If it is on ours, calling us first could save you from making unnecessary repairs or from paying a plumber to check it out.
Protecting California's waterways is a job that everyone can help with. Making certain your sewer laterals from the HCSD main lines are clear and free of debis help reduce:
- Sewer back-up into your home
- Sewer spills into waterways and the streets
- Inflow and Infiltration
