Homeowners May Have to Get Involved with Sewer Laterals

According to an article from BrookfieldNOW.com, Brookfield and Elm Grove, Wisc., have already spent millions of dollars trying to fix the sewer and storm drainage systems in their respective communities. Now, in hopes of identifying the problem laterals, some homeowners may have to become more directly involved by getting their laterals tested for cracks or leaks.

Despite the public money already invested, private laterals that connect homes to the improved sewer systems remain a problem.

For decades, both communities have tried to combat the flooding problems, whether on streets, drains or home basements. Elm Grove alone has spent more than $20 million on public sanitary sewer improvements and flood control projects.

But that work hasn't addressed sewer laterals, which are technically private property and connect home and businesses to the public system.

Now, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, of which both Brookfield and Elm Grove are members, is working with the cities to identify problem sewer laterals. For homeowners, that means having those laterals tested.

Because of leaky laterals, the clear water runoff that comes with storms should not be going into sanitary sewer pipes, but it often does, officials told BrookfieldNOW.com. That can lead to serious system backups, causing basement flooding and more.

Not only does that pose a problem for homeowners, but it means countless gallons of water that don’t need to be treated are going through the sanitary sewer system where they are eventually treated.

As part of this new program, MMSD, which communities pay to be part of the district, will send some dollars back to the communities to pay for both inspections and the repairs of these laterals.

You can read the full article here.

Source: BrookfieldNOW.com