| Sewer Department |
Our job is to keep things flowing!
The Montpelier sewer plant pumps approximately 0.3 million gallons of sewage per day to the treatment lagoons.
The City’s Wastewater System consists of approximately 20 miles of collection system lines, 3 lift stations, and the
main pump station that pumps to the 3 treatment lagoons.
The Montpelier sewer plant pumps approximately 0.3 million gallons of sewage per day to the treatment lagoons.
The City’s Wastewater System consists of approximately 20 miles of collection system lines, 3 lift stations, and the
main pump station that pumps to the 3 treatment lagoons.
Keep Your Pipes Clean!
By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Healthy & Green Living
Our trash that goes in the can or recycling is waste we have no choice but to face. Whether it’s hauling the trash cans to the sidewalk, bringing recycling to a center–it’s a massof garbage that we have to contend with. Liquid waste, on the other hand, simply gets rinsed down the drain and it’s “bye-bye never have to think about you again.” It’s a much
more expedient process–one that’s hidden from the eyes of any sanitation departments–and one that can wreak waves of environmental chaos, not to mention what it can do to
your pipes. We often don’t realize the harm we are doing by what we rinse down our kitchen sinks, bath and shower drains, and even what we flush down our toilets.
In a study published in 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected and analyzed water samples from 139 streams in 30 states. The goal of the study was to measure
concentrations of 95 wastewater-related organic chemicals in water. And guess what? One or more of these chemicals were found in 80 percent of the streams sampled. Half
of the streams contained seven or more of these chemicals, and about one-third of the streams contained 10 or more of these chemicals. Pharmaceutical and personal-care
products are to blame for many of the chemicals found in the USGS study. Research has shown that there can be effects on aquatic organisms like fish and frogs. Lesson
here: don’t flush unwanted prescriptions and try to purchase all-natural personal care products.
But another area of concern is kitchen waste–namely fats, oils and greases which can not only clog pipes, but are terrible for sewage systems. According to the Watership
Environment Foundation (WEF), sewer overflows and backups can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and threaten the environment. An increasingly common
cause of overflows is sewer pipes blocked by grease–this results in raw sewage overflowing in your home or your neighbor’s home; An expensive and unpleasant cleanup that
often must be paid for by you, the homeowner; Raw sewage overflowing into parks, yards, and streets; Potential contact with disease-causing organisms; and an increase in
operation and maintenance costs for local sewer departments, which causes higher sewer bills for customers. Where does the grease that causes sewer overflows come
from? Much of it from the kitchen sink.
Meat fats
Lard
Cooking oil
Shortening
Butter and margarine
Food scraps
Baking goods
Sauces
Dairy products
Grease sticks to the insides of sewer pipes (both on your property and in the streets). Over time, the grease can build up and block the entire pipe. Note that home garbage
disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system. These units only shred solid material into smaller pieces and do not prevent grease from going down the drain.
Commercial additives, including detergents, that claim to dissolve grease may pass grease down the line and cause problems in other areas.
WEF suggests these tips to alleviate pipe blockage and sewer overflows:
• Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets.
• Scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, and grills and cooking surfaces into a can or the trash for disposal (or recycling where available).
• Do not put grease down garbage disposals. Put baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty the drain baskets/strainers into the trash for
disposal.
• Speak with your friends and neighbors about the problem of grease in the sewer system and how to keep it out.
• Call your local sewer system authority if you have any questions.
Other things to never wash down your drain:
Fats, oils or grease from cars or lawnmowers
Coffee grinds
Egg shells
Produce stickers
Chunks of garbage
Feminine hygiene products
Paper towels
Flushable cat litter
Rags
Condoms
Motor oil, transmission fluids, anti-freeze or other toxic chemicals
Solvents, paints, turpentine, nail polish, polish remover
Flammable or explosive substances
Corrosive substances that are either acidic or caustic
Prescription and over-the-counter medications
For more information on how to dispose of old medication and personal care products, read Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/what-not-to-put-down-your-drain.html#ixzz1BzDNAYIF
 | Home Sewer Maintenance | |
| What Not To Put Down Your Drains |
Our trash that goes in the can or recycling is waste we have no choice but to face. Whether it’s hauling the trash cans to the sidewalk, bringing recycling to a center–it’s a mass
more expedient process–one that’s hidden from the eyes of any sanitation departments–and one that can wreak waves of environmental chaos, not to mention what it can do to
your pipes. We often don’t realize the harm we are doing by what we rinse down our kitchen sinks, bath and shower drains, and even what we flush down our toilets.
In a study published in 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected and analyzed water samples from 139 streams in 30 states. The goal of the study was to measure
concentrations of 95 wastewater-related organic chemicals in water. And guess what? One or more of these chemicals were found in 80 percent of the streams sampled. Half
of the streams contained seven or more of these chemicals, and about one-third of the streams contained 10 or more of these chemicals. Pharmaceutical and personal-care
products are to blame for many of the chemicals found in the USGS study. Research has shown that there can be effects on aquatic organisms like fish and frogs. Lesson
here: don’t flush unwanted prescriptions and try to purchase all-natural personal care products.
But another area of concern is kitchen waste–namely fats, oils and greases which can not only clog pipes, but are terrible for sewage systems. According to the Watership
Environment Foundation (WEF), sewer overflows and backups can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and threaten the environment. An increasingly common
cause of overflows is sewer pipes blocked by grease–this results in raw sewage overflowing in your home or your neighbor’s home; An expensive and unpleasant cleanup that
often must be paid for by you, the homeowner; Raw sewage overflowing into parks, yards, and streets; Potential contact with disease-causing organisms; and an increase in
operation and maintenance costs for local sewer departments, which causes higher sewer bills for customers. Where does the grease that causes sewer overflows come
from? Much of it from the kitchen sink.
Meat fats
Lard
Cooking oil
Shortening
Butter and margarine
Food scraps
Baking goods
Sauces
Dairy products
Grease sticks to the insides of sewer pipes (both on your property and in the streets). Over time, the grease can build up and block the entire pipe. Note that home garbage
disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system. These units only shred solid material into smaller pieces and do not prevent grease from going down the drain.
Commercial additives, including detergents, that claim to dissolve grease may pass grease down the line and cause problems in other areas.
WEF suggests these tips to alleviate pipe blockage and sewer overflows:
• Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets.
• Scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, and grills and cooking surfaces into a can or the trash for disposal (or recycling where available).
• Do not put grease down garbage disposals. Put baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty the drain baskets/strainers into the trash for
disposal.
• Speak with your friends and neighbors about the problem of grease in the sewer system and how to keep it out.
• Call your local sewer system authority if you have any questions.
Other things to never wash down your drain:
Fats, oils or grease from cars or lawnmowers
Coffee grinds
Egg shells
Produce stickers
Chunks of garbage
Feminine hygiene products
Paper towels
Flushable cat litter
Rags
Condoms
Motor oil, transmission fluids, anti-freeze or other toxic chemicals
Solvents, paints, turpentine, nail polish, polish remover
Flammable or explosive substances
Corrosive substances that are either acidic or caustic
Prescription and over-the-counter medications
For more information on how to dispose of old medication and personal care products, read Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/what-not-to-put-down-your-drain.html#ixzz1BzDNAYIF
State Certified Staff
| Wayne Hanson (Responsible in Charge Operator) | |
| Don Toomer (Backup Operator) | |
| Eric Hansen (Backup Operator) | |
Links
| DEQ (Wastewater) | |
Current Projects
Collection System
trucks that will be used to scour the lines. Inspection of the cleaned lines will then be performed with specialized camera equipment known as a PIG (pipeline inspection
gauge) mounted on a small tracked vehicle that will travel down each sewer line. A video of each line will be made so that City staff and the City Engineer can review the
condition of the pipelines.
City residents will notice the cleaning trucks and video equipment trucks around town. They will be parked in and along the City streets over manholes.
This project stems from a study performed by the City beginning in 2009. The study, known as a wastewater facility plan, was funded by a grant from the Idaho Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) and reviewed the City’s sewer system including both the sewer lines and treatment system (sewer lagoons).
The study found that the City sewer lagoons are currently performing well. The sewer collection system (sewer lines), on the other hand, need some work. As part of the study, a
small sample of sewer lines were inspected using the methods described above. The inspections showed that many of the oldest lines are deteriorating (the major portion of
the City’s sewer lines were installed in as part the “New Deal” in the 1930’s). The inspection videos showed corrosion, cracks, holes, offset joints, deteriorating joint gaskets,
and roots protruding into the pipes.
The inspections performed last year prompted the City to put together a project to inspect all of the lines that were not recently installed. The work will be performed by Titan
Technologies and will help the City determine which lines need to be replaced. Once the extent of repairs needed has been identified, the City will pursue funding to replace or
repair the lines. Funding for a potential project will likely come from in the form of a loan from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program administered by DEQ. The hope is that
sewer line replacement/repair can begin the summer of 2012.
Maintenance
Working on raising all manholes to street grade.
Repaired sewer main into manhole north of Verlene and east of Keele Sts.
Pump Station & Lagoons
Collection System
- Sewer Main Replacements
- Going to start a new major sewer project to replace all the old main lines like this one.
- Montpelier Sewerline Cleaning/Inspection Project
trucks that will be used to scour the lines. Inspection of the cleaned lines will then be performed with specialized camera equipment known as a PIG (pipeline inspection
gauge) mounted on a small tracked vehicle that will travel down each sewer line. A video of each line will be made so that City staff and the City Engineer can review the
condition of the pipelines.
City residents will notice the cleaning trucks and video equipment trucks around town. They will be parked in and along the City streets over manholes.
This project stems from a study performed by the City beginning in 2009. The study, known as a wastewater facility plan, was funded by a grant from the Idaho Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) and reviewed the City’s sewer system including both the sewer lines and treatment system (sewer lagoons).
The study found that the City sewer lagoons are currently performing well. The sewer collection system (sewer lines), on the other hand, need some work. As part of the study, a
small sample of sewer lines were inspected using the methods described above. The inspections showed that many of the oldest lines are deteriorating (the major portion of
the City’s sewer lines were installed in as part the “New Deal” in the 1930’s). The inspection videos showed corrosion, cracks, holes, offset joints, deteriorating joint gaskets,
and roots protruding into the pipes.
The inspections performed last year prompted the City to put together a project to inspect all of the lines that were not recently installed. The work will be performed by Titan
Technologies and will help the City determine which lines need to be replaced. Once the extent of repairs needed has been identified, the City will pursue funding to replace or
repair the lines. Funding for a potential project will likely come from in the form of a loan from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program administered by DEQ. The hope is that
sewer line replacement/repair can begin the summer of 2012.
- New Expansions
Maintenance
- Collection System
Working on raising all manholes to street grade.
Repaired sewer main into manhole north of Verlene and east of Keele Sts.
- Lift Stations
Pump Station & Lagoons
- Pump Station
- Lagoons
Your Sewer Fees
| $23.40/Month | |
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