In 2014, the City of Phillipsburg purchased a sewer line cleaning truck. This purchase allowed the Public Works Department to begin and implement sanitary sewer maintenance program. Most of the lines are in the street and some through utility easements. The City intends to clean approximately 25% of the system on an annual basis. Lines requiring a higher level of maintenance are cleaned more frequently. This routine maintenance helps to prevent blockages and backups.
How is the sewer cleaned? The sanitary sewer lines are cleaned using high performance sewer cleaning equipment. A cleaning nozzle is sent upstream from one manhole to the next using water pressure then pulled downstream using water jets to scour the interior of the sanitary pipe. Any debris in the pipe is pulled back with the water and removed using the vacuum portion of the cleaning truck.
Will I experience any problem when sanitary sewer near my building is cleaned? On occasion, during the cleaning process air occasionally can vent into a home causing water in the toilet bowl to bubble and occasionally splash outside of the bowl. As the Public Works Department employees are servicing your area please close toilet lids to minimize the splashing of water. You may also smell a sewer odor after the line is cleaned. If sewer odor is detected the traps in your home should be refilled. This can be done by pouring water down each of your building drains, including floor drains. These effects may occur during use of higher pressure needs when cleaning lines that have a steep slope, a plugged roof vent or other various homes waste and ventilation intricacies. As crews are servicing the area please close toilet lids.