Sanitary sewer dos and don'ts

The City of Bloomington has an aggressive and proactive sewer maintenance program that ensures proper disposal of sewage once it reaches the City's main lines. Last year, approximately 274 miles of sanitary main line were inspected and cleaned. In addition, 40 miles of main line were televised. The two main benefits of televising underground sewer infrastructure are: Utilities is able to evaluate the effectiveness of their maintenance procedures and gain insightful information regarding the physical deterioration of the main lines.

Due to this active maintenance program, the City encountered only seven sewer main backups affecting 8 homes in 2011. The main sources of these problems were grease, roots and rags, which were inappropriately discharged into the sewer system.

Common causes of backups
Maintaining individual service connections
For more information

Common causes of backups

In contrast, homeowner's and business owner's experienced 89 service line backups in 2011. This number is relatively low considering there are approximately 25,000 service connections. "The common cause of sewer service line backups is due to improper disposal of household items, such as paper towels, disposable diapers, cooking grease, and garbage disposal misuse," states Randy Poore, Utility Supervisor. Poore also stated that "garbage disposals should not be a garbage can replacement." Food debris such as fruit and vegetable peelings are notorious for creating slow-draining kitchen sinks. As these items move through the service lines and into the City's main lines, they have been known to create blockages in the sewer flow resulting in sewer backups into homes and businesses.

The Bloomington City Code includes an extensive list of what can and cannot be disposed into the sanitary sewer system (Sec. 11.31. Use of Sewers).

Maintaining individual service connections

The City is not responsible for the cleaning, maintaining, or repairing individual service connections to the main lines; the property owner bears the responsibility.

Contact the Utilities Division at 952-563-4910 anytime you experience a sewer backup. The City will check the sanitary sewer main line in the street. There is no charge for this service.

For additional information, contact:

Terry Neuman, Customer Service Supervisor
1700 W. 98th Street
PH: 952-563-4908
E-mail: tneuman@ci.bloomington.mn.us

Randy Poore, Utilities Supervisor
1700 W. 98th Street
Bloomington, MN 55431
PH: 952-563-4912
E-mail: rpoore@ci.bloomington.mn.us