Sewer Pipe Inspections
Sewer pipe inspections involve using a remote control camera to grade the condition of the underground sanitary and drainage pipes in order to prioritize utility renewal throughout the City.
As part of the process, sewer lines are cleaned using high performance sewer cleaning equipment. A cleaning nozzle is propelled from one manhole to the next using water under high pressure. The nozzle is then pulled back to the starting manhole. As the nozzle is pulled back, water scours the inside of the sanitary sewer pipe. Any debris in the pipe is pulled back with the water. This process is repeated on every sewer line cleaned.
During cleaning of sanitary sewer lines, air occasionally vents into a home through the sanitary sewer service line and ventilation system. When this happens, water in the toilet bowl can bubble or surge or, in rare instances, even splash out of the bowl.
The common causes of air venting into homes during sanitary sewer cleaning are:
- air movement from normal cleaning operations
- higher pressure needed when cleaning sanitary sewer lines that have a steep slope
- sewer lines running close to the building
- a plugged roof vent
- the size and complexity of the home’s waste and ventilation system
To minimize the potential for water splashing out of your toilet bowl during inspections, keep the lid down.