BEDFORD – Residents of Bedford are being advised to take steps to avoid sewer clogs, which tend to stem from grease building up or certain items being flushed, and can be costly to the city.
A sewer lateral connects a residents home to the city’s sewer main.
In the event of a clog, the resident is responsible for addressing lateral clogs, while the city will handle clogs of the sewer main.
Bedford has 36 lift stations, each with two pumps. Those pumps can become clogged when items like clothing, washcloths, mop heads, disposable wipes, needles or other difficult to break down items reach them. Once clogged, a pump will need to be pulled for the material to be removed, leading them to sometimes burn up or need repair.
Grease can also be an issue, getting on the float system and causing them to get stuck and not kick when needed to pump out the station.
Misty Adams, Bedford Utilities Director, said the city checks the grease traps of about 40 restaurants, schools and other locations because it is important that grease remains in the trap and pumped as needed so it will not reach the main.
If it reaches the main, Adams said grease can set up and solidify hard as rock, making it very difficult to clean and get rid of.
Something else which can lead to lateral and main clogs are roots, which can grow and create root balls that other objects will cling to, creating blockage for lines.
Another aspect of the issue is aging infrastructure in Bedford, something the city is actively tackling.
“Some things we are doing to attack the aging infrastructure is lining clay lines, replacing lines with PVC, upgrading lift stations, upgrading our wastewater plant, restoration of manholes, finding illicit discharges, et cetera,” Adams said.
If there are issues with the main, residents can call the sewer department at (812) 275-1626.
If the issue arises after business hours, emergency calls can be placed to 812-275-7173, where the city has two employees always on call for such maintenance.
If the issue is not with the main, the resident will likely need to call a plumber to address issues with the lateral.
