Source: City of Broken Arrow
Have you heard of a cleanout? It’s in your yard near your house or property line.
A cleanout is a vertical pipe that connects to the underground sewer line. It has a removable cap for you or your plumber to unscrew and gain access to your sewer system for maintenance issues. The cap is REALLY important.
During the summer of 2021, the City of Broken Arrow worked with a firm on a Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey to identify locations of inflow and infiltration within our wastewater collection system basin.
We were looking for defects that allowed storm water or debris into our sanitary sewer system which can cause blockages and even lead to backups in your home.
Smoke testing was done to reveal cracks in underground pipes, defective pipe connections, foundation drain deficiencies, and more. The most common defect found as a result of the testing was an uncapped cleanout in your yard.
Of the 97 defects that were found on private property, 82 were uncapped cleanouts. The cap is an important feature of the cleanout because,
- It prevents rainwater from entering the sewer system
- Excess water can cause the system to overload and create backups, and
- Excess water must be treated at the Water Reclamation Plant increasing utility costs
- It keeps debris out of lines causing blockages and leading to backups in your home
- It prevents rodents and small animals from entering the system and into your home
If your cleanout is missing its cap, or if the cap is damaged, you can purchase a replacement cap for a few dollars at your local hardware store. Click on this link to watch a short video about how easy the cap is to replace.
Please help us prolong the life of our sanitary sewer system and to control costs. Check your cleanout cap today.
If you need help locating the cleanout at your house, contact us at 918-259-7000 extension 7382. We’re happy to help!
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