If you experience a sewer backup, call us at the numbers listed below.
We will dispatch a maintenance crew to your address to determine if the stoppage is in the Village sewer main or the private sewer lateral. If the Village main is found to be clear, it is the responsibility of the property owner to call a plumber or sewer/drain cleaning service to correct the problem. The property owner is responsible for maintaining adequate flow to and through the sewer lateral from the property structure to and into the Village sewer main. If the blockage is in the Village main we will fix it as quickly as possible and keep you informed about what is being done.
Coping with Sanitary Sewer Backups
Sanitary Sewer Emergency Numbers:
- During normal business hours (7:00am – 4:00pm, Mon-Thurs and 7:00am – 1:00pm, Fri) – (715) 423-6580
- 24-Hour service line at (715) 424-4962.
Paying for Damage From a Sewer Backup
It is important to understand that the Village of Biron will not pay for damages caused by sewer backups.
Many homeowners' insurance policies exclude damage resulting from sewer backups, thus creating a financial hardship to the property owner in the event of an incident. However, some insurance companies do provide sewer backup coverage with a special rider. If you are concerned about the possibility of a sewer backup and want to insure that you are covered, the utility urges you to check with your home or property insurer regarding the availability of sewer backup insurance.
What causes sanitary sewer backups?
When waste not intended to be placed in the sanitary sewer like diapers, napkins, grease, paper towels or other non-disposable items get stuck on their way from your toilet, sink or bathtub to the sewer, disgusting back-ups may occur. These clogs can happen in the pipes inside your home or in the lateral line leading from your home. If plugged, this will not allow the wastewater to flow to the municipal sewer system and may "back up" into the property. Clogs in the lateral may also be caused by tree roots penetrating the pipe and restricting flow.
The following are all reasons a sanitary sewer backup in your sewer drains may occur. For more detailed explanations of materials that clog the sanitary sewer service laterals and mains, visit the What NOT to Flush page.
Grease
Grease bonds to the sanitary sewer pipe, which can restrict and ultimately cut off the private sanitary sewer service from the municipal wastewater system.
Solution: Do not pour grease or other illegal substances down the drain, as they will eventually clog the sanitary sewer service lines.
Waste
If the sanitary sewer service pipe is too small, or is partially clogged, the waste leaving the house from toilets, bathtubs, laundry rooms and dishwashers will back up into the house. This backup can usually be seen in the basement bathroom or laundry room.
Solution: Ensure you are only flushing acceptable human body waste, toilet paper and dirty water.
Tree Roots
Shrubs and trees, seeking moisture, will make their way into sewer line cracks. These roots can cause extensive damage. They may start out small, getting into a small crack in the pipe; but as the tree or shrub continues to grow, so does the root. After time, this causes your sewer line to break, which in turn allows debris to hang up in the line, thus causing a back up.
Solution: One way to prevent roots from entering your line is to replace your line and tap with new plastic pipe. The other alternative is to be careful about planting greenery around your sewer line or you may purchase a product containing "copper sulfate", which helps to kill roots when you pour it down your drain each year. This product should be used with extreme caution. If you have continuing problems with tree roots in your lateral, you may have to have them cut periodically by having the lateral rodded.
Breaks in the Pipe/Saturated Ground
When the ground around the sanitary sewer service is saturated (after a heavy rain or in an area with ponding water), the rainwater can seep into the cracks in the pipe.
Solution: Replace the cracked sanitary sewer service.
Drain Line Check Valves
Property owners can install a drain line check valve to prevent backups. For an existing building, the estimated cost is $1000. Most of the expense is for labor to remove a section of the basement floor, uncover the drain, install the check valve, and then repair the basement floor.
The check valve is not fool proof, and there are some circumstances where it may fail to prevent a backup. Still, it will eliminate many of the problems. A plumbing permit is required for the installation.
More Information
Read Village ordinance 13.26 Use of Public Sewers to learn about what you should and should not discharge into the sanitary sewer.