Sanitary Sewer Policy

All sewer customers are encouraged to call the city whenever they experience sewer problems at their property. The problem may be caused by a stoppage in the city's sewer main or the customer's service line. If the city crew can correct the problem by cleaning the city's sewer main, the customer can save the cost of a plumber's service call. The city crew will respond to all service calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When the city receives a call for this service the crew will clean the sewer main that is connected to the customer's service line. However, if the cleaning of the city main does not correct the problem, then at this time the property owner should seek the services of a plumbing contractor.

A house sewer (service lateral) is defined in Section 98-91 of the Haltom City Code of Ordinances as the pipe, which carries wastewater from your home or business to the point of connection with the public sewer main. It identifies the sewer service lateral as belonging to the property owner. In many cases a portion of that lateral line is under the street.

In the past, when there was a failure of the lateral under the pavement, the property owner was responsible for hiring a plumbing contractor to make the repair to the lateral, and then repair the street. Recently, street repairs have become quite expensive. In order to spare our customer the expense of street repairs, the city is now offering to make repairs to service laterals under the pavement if the following conditions are met:

• If after the city crew has determined that the city sewer main is clear, the property owner must have a plumber attempt to clear the stoppage in the customer service line. If the plumber discovers that there is a line failure under the pavement, then the plumber must locate and identify that failure by TV inspection in the presence of a city sewer maintenance employee. The city will not dig up laterals under the pavement that the city believes has roots, grease, or debris that can be cleared by conventional cleaning methods. It is the customer's responsibility to employ the services of a contractor who is equipped to correct such problems and has the ability to perform closed circuit TV inspection.
• If it is determined by city personnel that the service line cannot be cleared, the city will schedule the repair for the third working day after such a determination, if possible. If there is a complete interruption of service it may be possible to make the repair sooner. By law, the city is required to give forty-eight (48) hour notice to other utilities (Electric, Atmos, USIC, etc.) before digging in the street right-of-way. Failure to do so makes the City liable for any damages to their utility lines and places the city employees at risk of injury.

In order to contact city personnel for assistance with a sewer problem Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., call Public Works at 817-834-9036. Requests for service outside of these operating hours should call the Police Department non-emergency number 817-281-1000. In order to schedule a sewer maintenance crew leader or supervisor to meet with your plumber, you must specifically request that service when making your call. These arrangements can be made the day of the call but are by appointment only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

HALTOM CITY PUBLIC WORKS
Sanitary Sewer Policy

4200 Hollis Street
Haltom City, Texas 76111

Phone: 817-834-9036
Fax: 817-831-7855