CITY OF HAYS
The city of Hays Water Resources Department has contracted Infra Track to conduct sewer line cleaning and inspections at the locations described below and shown on the maps.
Cleaning will begin Tuesday, November 7, 2017, and will continue through December 22, 2017. The date may change due to breakdowns, weather or other problems.
On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, crews will begin working in the following areas: Highway 183 Bypass between Frontier Road & 27th St. east to Columbine Drive. Infra Track should be completed with the entire project on Friday, December 22, 2017. Door hanger notices will be placed on homes and businesses affected before the cleaning.
During this process, residents may experience a rumbling sound, in addition to the possibility of water entering your sink, bathtub and/or toilet. Sewer lines can develop air pressure or a partial vacuum from the cleaning process. Usually any excess air pressure or vacuum will dissipate through the plumbing vents, but occasionally there are facilities with inadequate plumbing vents (i.e.: no vents, undersized vents or obstructed vents). In this case of inadequate venting, air pressure could escape through the toilet, floor, sink, tub or shower drains, causing water to splash out or a vacuum could draw the water out of the fixture traps allowing unpleasant odors.
If you will not be home or on vacation during the time of sewer line cleaning, please protect your home by keeping your toilet lids down.
Other ideas on how to protect your home while away are as follows:
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 an 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.
Why are you cleaning and inspecting the sewers?
The cleaning and inspection program keeps the sewer system operating efficiently by:
• Preventat ive 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 Water Reclamation & Reuse Facility Plant.
How do you inspect the sewers?
The 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 o f 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 Water Resources Office at 785-628-7380 or via email [email protected].