Residents living in northwest Hays may notice some rumbling noise starting Monday.
It won’t be thunder, says Hays Utilities Director Bernie Kitten:
There are 120 miles of sanitary sewer lines in Hays.
If you will not be home or on vacation during the time of the sewer line cleaning which starts August 12th, please protect your home by keeping your toilet lids down. Other ideas on how to protect your home:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do anything before you clean/inspect the sewers on my street?
Yes. Occasionally during cleaning and inspection, air pressure in the sewer can cause water to splash out through toilets, sinks and drains. Take the following precautions to prevent water damage in your home:
• Close the lids on all toilet bowls when not in use.
• Insert drain plugs in all sinks and bathtubs when not in use.
• Remove all floor mats in bathrooms.
• Place an old towel around the base of toilets, or cover all toilets with plastic or old towel and close the lid on the plastic or towel.
• If you have a float plug in your floor drain or a backwater valve installed in your house, ensure that it is free of debris and operating properly.
• Wrap the cover of your basement and other floor drains with thick plastic (i.e., a freezer bag or a car floor mat). Place something heavy over the floor drains to keep the plastic-covered floor drain covers in place.
The precautions are recommended only during our working times as provided.
You may put things back as they were when the equipment has moved off your block.
See attached map for detailed locations. On the map, the red lines indicating 2013 project – 19 miles, is the area that will be cleaned.
The area between Willow and the 183 By-pass and 27th St. to 41st Street
And finally the area between Vine St. to Willow St. and 27th St. to 33rd St.
Why are you cleaning and inspecting the sewers?
The cleaning and inspection program keeps the sewer system operating efficiently by:
• Preventative maintenance significantly reduce the chance for damaging sewer blockages and backups
• removing built-up debris, such as tree roots, grease, grit and sand
• determining the condition of the sewer for repairs or replacement of sewers as necessary
How do you clean the sewers?
The sewers are cleaned using a high-pressure nozzle to flush water down the sewer. The dirt and debris are sucked up through a manhole by a large vacuum truck and taken to the landfill.
How do you inspect the sewers?
They are inspected by inserting a remotely operated video camera into the sewer to record its condition. The video shows us if repairs or replacement of the sanitary sewer is needed.
Will I notice anything after you have cleaned/inspected the sewers on my street?
Sometimes the sewer cleaning and inspection leaves an odor in the home. If so, run some water down the sink and bathtub drains, flush the toilets, pour a pail of water into each basement floor drain, and open the windows. After a short time, the odor should disappear.
Can I use the toilets and my water while you are cleaning and inspecting the sewer on my block?
Yes. However, be careful as air pressure in the sewer during the cleaning and inspection can sometimes cause water to splash out through toilets, sinks and drains. Remember to close the lids on all toilet bowls when not in use, and insert drain plugs in all sinks and bathtubs when not in use.
The City of Hays apologizes for any inconvenience this may impose. Performing this preventative maintenance by cleaning the sanitary sewer will improve the sewer’s performance and significantly reduce the chance for future sewer backups and related problems.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at the Utilities Office at 785-628-7380, or via email [email protected]