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SEWER INSPECTION
WHAT IS A "SEWER INSPECTION"?
Sanitary sewer "collection systems" require periodic inspection and maintenance to insure service reliability. Most sewer inspections are made through the manholes which are located at designated locations throughout the "collection system."
Manholes will need to be located, opened and cleaned before inspection and services work will be performed. In the case of internal pipe inspections, closed circuit video inspection units will enter the piping through the manhole and exit from adjacent manholes along the "collection system."
In most situations, sewer inspections are performed on the publicly owned and maintained portion of the "collection system."
WHY IS A "SEWER INSPECTION" NECESSARY?
The "collection system" owner must periodically inspect and perform maintenance on the system to insure service reliability. Most "collection systems" deteriorate with age and require rehabilitation. Site specific questions should be presented to the operating authority of the "collection system" whose contact information appears on monthly water bills.
WHO AUTHORIZED THIS "SEWER INSPECTION"?
The inspection is authorized and conducted by the utility system owner or the system's designated Operator. Site specific questions should be presented to the operating authority of the "collection system" whose contact information appears on monthly water bills.
WHERE IS ACCESS REQUIRED?
Inspection work is performed through the sanitary sewer manholes. Should the sanitary sewer manhole be located in the backyard of a home or office, inspection personnel will need safe, non-obstructed passage around the manhole location.
WHAT IS A "SANITARY SEWER CLEAN-OUT CAP"?
The clean-out cap is a point of access along the private owned portion of the service line. In most cases, the clean-out cap is located near the building foundation at points where the service line exits the building. Most clean-out caps are white, black or gray PVC plastic approximately 3" - 4" in diameter.
SPS can provide clean-out cap location assistance for those residents that call in advance.
WHY DO I NEED TO REMOVE MY CLEAN-OUT CAP?
Gray water can potentially back-up into buildings and creat a smelly mess in the bathroom areas. Removal of the clean-out cap will prevent this by providing a point of escape outside of the building.
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THE RESIDENT?
Permit timely access to the utility easement manhole(s) during the test times and dates indicated on the sewer inspection notice and restrain pets. Field personnel will not contact each resident along a sewer line prior to the inspection process. Sewer inspection notices (door hangers) will be distributed prior to the inspection.
HOW LONG DOES THE INSPECTION TAKE?
Dependent on the construction and configuration of the collection system, most inspections are completed within 4-6 hours. Some areas require a longer inspection period than others and there are times when it is necessary to return at a later date to complete the inspection.
MANHOLE INSPECTION
WHY ARE YOU INSPECTING THE MANHOLES?
The utility district that operates your water and sewer systems have contracted our company to visually inspect the condition of the manholes in your area. They are looking for defective and poorly operating manholes.
WHY DO I HAVE TO RESTRAIN MY PETS?
Manholes must be inspected visually. Each manhole and the area surrounding it must be photographed. If there is a manhole on your property, access to it must be allowed.
HOW LONG DOES THE INSPECTION TAKE?
Normally the inspection process is completed within a day or two. Some areas require a longer inspection period than others and there are times when it is necessary to return at a later date to complete the inspection.
SMOKE TESTING
WHAT IS A "SMOKE TEST"?
Smoke testing is a technique that demostrates direct connections to the sanitary sewer collection system. This technique injects non-hazardous smoke through the manholes along various points of the system. The escaping smoke indicates where un-wanted water could be entering the sewer collection system.
IS THE SMOKE SAFE?
Yes. The smoke that comes out of the vent stacks on houses and exit points in the ground is a non-toxic parafin based material that is odorless and white in color.
CAN IT COME INTO MY HOUSE?
Possibly. If the p-traps on drains in your home do not have enough water in them, the smoke could come in from there. To prevent this run water in all of your sinks prior to the smoke testing. Sometimes smoke comes up through the vents in the roof of your house. This is normal.
WHY DO I HAVE TO RESTRAIN MY PETS?
Each smoke leak and the area surrounding it must be photographed. If there is a smoke leak on your property, access to it must be allowed.
HOW LONG DOES THE INSPECTION TAKE?
Normally the inspection process is completed within a day or two. Some areas require a longer inspection period than others and there are times when it is necessary to return at a later date to complete the inspection.
** Texas law provides access to utility easements and District Facilities by the the Texas Water Code. This includes directors, operators and contractors of the utility district.
frequently asked questions.