Village of Ashville, Ohio

There are two (2) types of sanitary lines. One is called the “Main” and it is the responsibility collectively of the Village. The second sanitary line is called the Sewer Lines“Lateral”. The lateral sanitary line runs from the main to your home or business. Keeping your lateral sanitary sewer line clean, open and in good repair reduces the risk of blockages, a basement backup and raw sewage leaking into the groundwater.

Maintaining your sanitary sewer line is simple. Understanding what your sanitary sewer line is, how it works, and contacting Village of Ashville Utility Department is all you need to do.

Maintaining Your Sanitary Sewer Line Is Every Homeowners Responsibility

As a property owner you are responsible for:

1. Keeping the sanitary sewer line clear of blockages and debris
2. Repairing any broken or collapsed portions of the line located on your property

By not properly maintaining your sanitary sewer line, you may be financially responsible for any damage to yours or your neighbor’s property caused by your sanitary sewer line.

What is a Sanitary Sewer Line?

Your “Sanitary Sewer Line” is the lateral sewer line that connects your home to the public sewer system. Wastewater from your toilets, sinks, showers, and washing machine travels through your sanitary sewer line to the public sewer main line which carries it to the nearest wastewater plant for treatment.

How Does My Sanitary Sewer Line Effect Neighbors And The Public Sewer System?

Your Neighbors

If your sanitary sewer line is broken or leaking, raw sewage could be seeping into the ground water. Ground water passes to your neighbors yards, to creeks, to streams, specifically Walnut Creek or Scioto River.

Public Sewer System

A broken or cracked sanitary sewer line can allow storm water to enter and create a system overload causing backups and overflows throughout the Village of Ashville’s public sewer system.\

What Can Cause My Sanitary Sewer Line To Clog, Crack Or Break?

Blockages are most often caused by excessive buildups of grease (a result of pouring cooking grease and fat down the kitchen sink). When flushed, plastic and other non-soluble materials such as baby wipes, diapers, feminine products and kitty litter can also get caught in the line and block the flow of wastewater through the system.

A common problem is also tree and shrub roots that have grown into the line. Sanitary sewer lines installed prior to 1980 in Ashville are primarily made of cast iron or clay and can deteriorate or become brittle over time. Roots seek water and will find their way through cracks and holes causing blockages and further damage.

Unfortunately, contractors can also cause damage to sewer lines due to inexperience and improper tool usage.

What Do I Need To Do?

You need to call a plumbing company or plumber to have your sanitary sewer line inspected. Make sure that they have the capacity to video tape. A video inspection camera will be fed through your line so you can view the lines condition; then your line will be cleaned and cleared of any blockages and repairs made if necessary.

Please, do not delay. Protect your home and our environment by inspecting your lateral sanitary line.

Saving Big Money

The facility responsible for such blockages can be found liable for the costs to clean and clear the sewer line and possibly for any costs for damage done to adjoining properties, as well as for fines for violation of local ordinances.

Preventing Denial of Service

Regulations may also require the installation of a larger, more efficient grease trap. It is even possible that the offender might be disconnected from sewer service to halt or prevent a discharge that presents an imminent endangerment to the health or welfare of the population.

Ways for Restaurants to Help

Never pour used grease, fats and oils down the sink drain. Adding hot water, detergent, or even commercial degreasers* does not help. Grease that is liquefied will still become solid again when it enters the public system.

*The use of additives (chemical or biological) or hot water to emulsify grease and allow it to pass through a grease trap circumvents the purpose of the trap and is therefore not acceptable.

It is highly recommended that an external storage bin be used to collect fats, oils and grease generated in the preparation of food. This grease can then be hauled away by a scavenger company for proper disposal. F.O.G. should be deposited in these grease bins and not dumped down a sanitary sewer where it will congeal and plug up the sewer line.

Inspection Programs

The Village of Ashville’s Utility Department staff may make unscheduled random visits to food service license holders to:

• Verify that the maintenance and frequency of grease removal from the restaurant's grease trap is appropriate. The grease trap must be cleaned and the grease removed on a schedule that will prevent grease from passing through the trap system and entering the public sewer system.
• Verify that the grease trap is in sound operating condition. Check for deterioration and possible need for replacement.
• Verify that grease trap "additives" are not being used.

Existing Establishments

While existing restaurants and food service establishments are allowed to use interior or the smaller type of exterior grease trap that was legal at the time of their construction as long as they do not contribute grease to the sanitary sewer lines, it is recommended that they "upgrade" to the current specifications. Problems with grease clogging sewer lines in their vicinity or discovery, upon inspection, of improperly maintained grease traps will result in a mandate to install the required type.

If you have any questions regarding these very important issues, please call the James Welsh 740/983-6367.

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