Village of Shorewood Hills
Department of Public Works

Sanitary Sewer Backups

The sanitary sewer main does backup from time to time, but most of the backups are private sewer backing up into your own house.  If you do not know what is backing up into your house call DPW.  We will investigate to determine the source.  If the sewer main is clogged we will open it up as soon as possible.  If your private sewer is clogged you will need to call a private contractor to open the sewer.  

• Keep the mess out of your basement - Install a backwater valve. The plumbing code now generally requires a backwater valve to be included as part of the floor drain. This valve is intended to prevent the backup of sewage from the sewer into the residence through the floor drain.
• Keep lint traps in the sinks that drain washing machines in place. It is easier to clean out the lint trap than it is to clean out the building sewer.
• Do not plant trees and shrubs over your private building sewer. The roots of trees, particularly silver maple and willow trees, will seek out the joints of the sanitary sewer and eventually clog the pipe.
• Do not put large amounts of vegetable waste, such as pea pods and potato skins, through the garbage disposal at one time. Even though these materials will go through the garbage disposal, they can clog the private building sewer. This also applies to large amounts of grease that will build up over time eventually causing a blockage.
• If the building sewer serves a commercial establishment in which a grease trap is required, the grease trap should be cleaned periodically to prevent the solids from bypassing the trap and entering the building sewer. Enzymes should not be used in treatment of grease. The use of enzymes deposits the grease in sewer lift stations. The grease must be cleaned out to maintain proper operation and disposal of lift station slug is expensive.
• Maintain your lateral. Being required to cut tree roots or clean sediment from your building sewer every 3 years is not unusual. If you are cleaning your building sewer more often than once per 2 years contact Denny or John at 267-2680 to determine if the public or building sewer is contributory to your problem.

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