Sewer blockages and surcharges - Wybalena Grove · 3 2. Sewer blockages Signs Signs of a sewer...

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Faults and emergencies 13 11 93 (24 hours) Burst and leaking pipes. Blocked network sewers. After hours inspectors.

Customer account enquiries 13 14 93 (24 hours) For water, sewerage and stormwater, and includes new connections, temporary connections and permanent disconnections.

Service and technical enquiries Tie, main, manhole location and inspectors 6248 3555 8.30am to 5.00pm weekdays Reimbursement administration. Odour concerns. Non-domestic sewer waste.

Reimbursement officer assistance and onsite advice 6248 3555 or 0414 514 712 8.30am to 5.00pm weekdays

Reimbursement claim address ActewAGL GPO Box 366 Canberra City ACT 2601 (Attention: Water Division)

BEPCON (Building, Electrical, Plumbing Control)6207 6907 Drainage plans and tie locations (all suburbs).

Dial-Before-You-Dig1100 Locations of services and clearances.

A guide for the licenced drainer and property owner

Sewer blockages and surcharges

www.actewagl.com.au

ActewAGL Distribution ABN 76 670 568 688 a partnership of ACTEW Distribution limited. ABN 83 073 025 224 and Alinta GCA Pty Ltd ABN 24 008 552 663.

ActewAGL Distribution operates the water and wastewater assets of ACTEW Corporation Ltd ABN 86 069 381 960.

Printed on recycled paper

Contents

�. Sewagesurchargeintotheproperty

Emergencyproceduresfortheresident

Surcharge

Accesspit(manhole)overflows

2. Sewerblockages

Causes

Wheresewerdrainscanblock

Whattodoifthesewerblocks

Toxicwastesandexplosiveatmospheres

3. Componentsofthesewersystem

Shallowsewertie

Deepsewertie

Multipleriserstodeepmain

Directconnectionintoanaccesspit

4. Minimisingrisks

Preventivemaintenance

5. Treesandshrubs

Guidetoplantingtreesandshrubsnearseweragedrains

6. Guidelinesfordrainers

Worksequenceguidefordrainers

7. Whopays?

Thepropertyowner’sresponsibilities

ActewAGLresponsibilities

ConditionsforreimbursementofclaimsbyActewAGL

1. Sewage surcharge into the property

EmergencyproceduresbytheresidentIfsewageflows(surcharges)intoabuilding,houseoryard:

turnoffwaterappliances,washingmachinesanddishwashers donotflushtoilets,donotreleasebathsortubs openoutsidedoors usetowelsorrugstodivertwatertotheoutside unblockorremoveexternalsewergrates removethecapofexternalinspectionopenings phoneActewAGLon131193.

TelltheActewAGLoperator:

streetname,numberandsuburb thedrainer’sname(ifoneisalreadyengaged) thecustomer’sname acontacttelephonenumber explainwhatyoucanseeandwhatyouhavedone

AnActewAGLemergencyteamwillattendanddetermineiftheblockageislocatedinActew’ssewagenetworkorthepropertyowner’ssanitarydrain.IftheblockageisintheACTEWCorporationsystem,ActewAGLwillclearitassoonaspossible.

Thepropertyownerisresponsibletophonealicenseddrainertoclearorrepairtheinternalsanitarydrains.

InsuranceassessmentIfdamagehasresultedfromasurchargeorifthereisthepotentialfordamagetooccurandyouhaveinsurancecover,ActewAGLalsosuggestyoucallyourinsurancecompanyandaskforanassessortovisitimmediately.

Accesspit(manhole)overflowsIfthereareoverflowingActewCorporationaccesspits,phoneActewAGLon131193,explainthelocationoftheaccesspit(manhole),givethecaller’snameandphonenumberandaskfortheActewAGLemergencyteamtocomeandclearthemain.

2. Sewer blockages

SignsSignsofasewerblockageinclude:

toilets,basins,bathsortubsareslowtoempty toiletsoverfloworfillhigherthanusual gully-trapsanddisconnectortrapsintheyardoverflowwhenthetoiletisflushed,whenbasins

orbathsarereleased overflowingseweraccesspits(manholes)inthevergeorbackyard gurglingnoisesinthesanitarydrains.

CausesCausesofasewerblockageinclude:

rubbish,children’stoys,tennisballs,nappies,clothing,sanitarypads,fat,loam,sandandotherwastesthatarenotintendedforthesewer

treerootsenteringthesewerdrainpipesthroughcracks,faultyjointsorlooseinspectionopenings

crushedorflattenedpipesthathavebeendamagedbymovementofthesub-soil,penetrationofrocksorbyoverloadingthegroundwithretainingwalls,buildingstructuresandvehiculartraffic

improperlylaidpipesorsubsidenceintheearth,whichcausesthepipestoholdwaterorevenfallinthewrongdirection

theillegalconnectionofstormwatersumpsordownpipestothesewercausingthemtooverflowwhenitrains.

WheresewerdrainscanblockSewerdrainscanblock:

inanypartofthesanitarydrainwithintheproperty inthetiewherethesanitarydrainsconnecttotheACTEWbranchline intheACTEWbranchline(betweenthemainandthetie) intheACTEWsewermainoraccesspit(manhole)

Blockagesmayalsooccurinvents(frombird’snestsorfromphysicaldamage).

Whathouseholderscandotofixblockagesintheproperty’ssanitarydrains

Callalicenseddrainer.Explainthesymptomsoftheblockagethenaskthedrainertovisitandinvestigatethecause.Remembertoaskthedrainerhowmuchtheinitialcall-outwillcost.Getasecondquoteifyouthinkthepriceishigh.

Repairingblockedsewerscanbeexpensiveandtimeconsuming.Anexperienceddrainerworkslikeadetectiveeliminatingcausesonebyoneuntiltheblockageisfound.Acompetentdrainerwilldecidethequickestandcheapestwaytofixtheproblemforthelongterm.

Aftertheinitialinvestigation,thedrainershouldgiveanestimateofcosttocleartheblockageandrepairthepipes.Ifsomefactorsarestillunknown,askforanupperlimitofcost.Ifthepriceistoomuchforyourbudget,askforalternativesolutions.Note:Ifthecauseoftheblockageisinthetieconnectionorintheproperty’ssanitarydrains,theleaseholderisresponsibleforallcosts.

IfthedrainersuspectsthatthecauseoftheblockageisintheACTEWbranchlineorsewermain,thedrainershouldinformthehouseholderandcallActewAGL.AnActewAGLemergencycrewwillvisittocheckthemainandclearthemainifitisblocked.

Ifthebranchlineisblocked,ActewAGLmayinstructthedrainertoundertakeacamerainspectionorprovideaccesstothetiepointsothatthebranch-linecanbeinspected,cleanedorrepaired.Thedrainershouldkeepthehouseholderinformed.

Ifthedrainerbelievesthesewermainisblocked,thedrainershouldphoneActewAGL’semergencyphonelineon131193(forexample,manholesfulloroverflowing).

IfevidenceisfoundthattheblockageisintheACTEWnetwork,theleaseholder’sdrainermaysubmittheiraccountstoActewAGLforevaluationandreimbursement.TheleaseholdershouldnotpaythedrainerifaclaimisbeingmadetoActewAGLbythedrainer.ActewAGLwillpaythedrainerdirectifitacceptstheclaim.

Ifablockageiscausedbyunapprovedwasteenteringthesewerfromtheleaseholder’sproperty,ActewAGLwillnotreimbursetheseclaims.Costsaretobepaidbytheleaseholder.(SeeSection4,‘MinimisingRisks’)

Note:Onlyapprovedpersonsarepermittedtoworkontheseweragesystem.

ToxicwastesandexplosiveatmospheresIftoxicwastesorexplosiveatmospheresaresuspectedtobeinthesewer,phoneActewAGLon�3��93andtheACTFireBrigadeon000,immediately.Donot,underanycircumstances,enteraccesspitsorre-enterexcavations.Donotpermitfireinthearea.

3. Components of the sewer system

Shallowsewertie

Deepsewertie

Multipleriserstodeepmain

Directconnectionintoanaccesspit

4. Minimising risks

PreventivemaintenanceSewersystemsage.Rootsfindtheirwayintotheslightestfault.Pipesgetsquashedandrubbishcangetintothedrainsinmanydifferentways.Unfortunately,manyblockagescannotbepreventedwithoutreplacementofpipework.However,preventivemeasurescanreducethecostandincidenceofblockageorsurcharge.

Donotflushfabric,plastic,toxicsubstancesoranynon-biodegradableproductsintothesewer.Thesemayincludeclothing,nappies,sanitarynapkins,tampons,incontinencepads,surgicalbandages,cottonbuds,pantihose,paint,petrol,solvents,pesticides,chemicals,oilsandrubber,razorblades,condoms,dogfaeces,pharmaceuticalproducts,cigarettebutts,nailpolishremover,toiletdeodorantdispensers,andsoon.Theseweragesystemisdesignedtocarryhumanexcrementandwashingwater.Blockagescausedbyunapprovedwasteswillnotbereimbursed.

Putcookingfatintotherubbishbininsteadofflushingitdownthesink. Putfoodscraps,tealeavesorcoffeegroundsintothebinorcompost. Checkwithagardencentrebeforepurchasingtrees,vinesandshrubs.Avoidplantsthatare

knowntohaveinvasiveroots. Donotplanttreesorlargeshrubsoverthesewer.(SeeSection5,‘Treesandshrubs’) Donotconnectstormwaterdrains,sumpsordownpipestothesewer. Keepexternalgratesandcoversinplacetostopforeignobjectsenteringthedrains.Ensure

externalreliefgulliesareatleast150mmbelowthelowestinternalfixtureoutletorfloorwaste. Checkthelocationofpipes,drainsandelectricitycablesbeforeexcavating. Engagealicenseddrainertoattendtoblockagesassoonasyoususpectaproblemexists.

5. Trees and shrubs

GuidetoplantingtreesandshrubsnearseweragedrainsTrees must be planted so that their mature canopy does not come within two metres of ACTEW assets.

Tree,vineandshrubrootsareamajorcauseofpipeblockages.Rootstapintosoilmoistureandnutrients.Whenthesearenotreadilyavailable,manyspecieswilldetecttheslightestleakorfaultindrainagesystems.

Oncetreerootsbreakintoasewerorstormwaterpipe,theycontinuetogrowandrestrictthepassageofwaterandsewage.Inseverecases,therootscanbreakthepipe.

Whenplantingitisadvisabletolocatetreesnocloserthantherecommendeddistancefromsewerpipes.Thetreesinthefollowingtableareintendedasaguide.Forprofessionaladviceonsuitabletreesandshrubs,talktoyourlocalnursery.

Examplesoftreesandshrubsthataresuitableforplantingwiththematurecanopy*nocloserthantwometresfrompipes:

Botanicalname Localname

Acaciabuxifolia Box-leavedWattleBanksiaericifolia HeathBanksiaCallistemoncitrinus CrimsonBottlebrushEuonymusJaponica EvergreenSpindleTreeGenistatinctoria BroomLogerstroemiaindica PinkCrepeMyrtleMalus(species) FloweringCrabapplesNeriumoeander OleanderPyracantha(species) FirethornViburnumlinus Laurustinus

Examplesoftreesandshrubsthataresuitableforplantingwiththematurecanopy*nocloserthanfourmetresfrompipes:

Angophoracostata Smooth-barkedAppleMyrtleBetulapendula SilverBirchEucalyptuscinerea ArgyleAppleFraxinusexcelsior“Aurea” GoldenAshMelaleaucaarmillaris BraceletHoneymyrtleM.styphelioides PricklyPaperbarkSophorajaponica PagodaTreeSorbusaucuparia Rowan,MountainAshWisteriasinensis ChineseWisteria

ExamplesoftreesthatareNOTsuitableforplantinginthesuburbanenvironment:

Acernegundo BoxElderMapleCasuarinacunninghamiana RiverOakCeltisaustralis SouthernNettleTreeE.globulus CalifornianBlueGumE.sideroxylon MuggaorRedIronbarkFraxinusoxycarpa DesertorCaucasianAshPinus(species) PinesPopulus(species) PoplarsQuercus(species) OaksSalix(species) WillowsUlmus(species) Elms

*Tominimisetheriskofrootscausingdamagetosanitarydrainsandsewermains,treesandbushesshouldbeplantedsothatthematurecanopydoesnotextendoverthepipealignment.

ForacompletelistoftreesandshrubsthataresuitableforplantinginthesuburbanenvironmentpleasecontactActewAGLbycalling62483555.

6. Guidelines for drainers

ItisActewAGL’spolicytoensurethatremedialworkiscarriedout:

withaminimumdisruptiontosupply withahighlevelofcustomerserviceandrespect toavoidanyharmfulimpactontheenvironment inamannerthatminimisescosttothepropertyownerandActewAGL respectingthedrainer’sskillsandrighttoprofit.

WorksequenceguidefordrainersThefollowingstepsareofferedtodrainersasaguidetoachievingActewAGLpolicies.

1. ChecktheimpactofinternaldischargeontheDT,ORGandboundaryriser.

2. Checkaccessiblemanholes(callActewAGLon131193ifoverflowing).

3. Attempttocleartheinternalsanitarydrainsfromasuitableaccesspoint.

4. Locate,clearandrepairblockagesupstreamofthetiepoint.

5. Catchandremoveblockagematerialforinspectionbythecustomer.

6. Locateblockagesatthetiepointordownstreaminthebranchline.

7. Ifthereisstrongevidencethattheblockageisinthemain,donotexcavatebeforecallingActewAGLtocheck/clearthemain.AskActewAGLtoadviseyouoftheoutcome.

8. Ifthesewermainisclear,buttheblockageremains,accuratelydeterminethelocationanddepthofthetiepointandtherelationshipofthebranchtothemainormanhole.

9. Ifthedrainerisabletoclearthebranch-linewithoutcallingActewAGL,thepropertyownerisresponsibleforcosts.Iftheblockagecannotbeclearedbyconventionalmeansorthedrainerconsidersthatreplacementofpipesmayberequired,proceedwithstep10.

10. Ifthereisanexistingriseratthetiepoint,andsewageflowsfromitwhenopened,proceedtostep12.

11.Ifthereisnoboundaryriser,providepracticalandsufficientaccesstothetiepoint/riser/branchlineinaccordancewithActewAGL’sneedtoinspect,rod,eel,cameraorrepair.Accessmethodsmayincludeexcavationofjump-ups,excavationofthetieIO,CCTVcameraandelectroniclocater.

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12.CallActewAGLon131193tohavearepresentativemeetyouonsitetodeterminethecauseoftheblockage.

13.AgreewhowillundertaketherectificationworksintheActewAGLnetworkbranchline.

14. Recordtherepresentative’sdecision,nameandsignature.

15.ReinstatethesanitarydrainsinaccordancewithBEPCONplumbingnotesandAS3500.2.Installanaccess(boundary)riserifoneexists.

16.Reinstatetheexcavation.Compactasnecessarytosupportpavements.

17.Reinstatethelandscape,pavementsandapprovedstructures.

18.Prepareandsubmitinvoicestotheresponsibleparties.

Drainageplans/tiepointlocations:InternalsanitarydrainandtielocationplanscanbeobtainedfromBEPCONbycalling62076907.

Usefultechnologiesandaids:Contractorsarestronglyurgedtomakeuseofexploratoryorlocatingtechnologiesasapreliminarytomajorexcavationstopreciselylocatetheproblemandavoidunnecessarycosts.

7. Who pays?

Thepropertyowner’sresponsibilitiesThepropertyownerpaystoremoveblockages,makegoodfaultyworkmanshiporreplacefaultymaterialsinthesanitarydrainsinstalledontheowner’sproperty,atandupstreamofthetie.Thepropertyownerpaysfortheclearanceofrootsthatenteratthetie.Thepropertyownerpaysfordamagetothetiecausedbyrootentryorexcavationworks.

ActewAGLresponsibilitiesActewAGLpaystoremoveblockagesinthesewerlinesownedbyACTEWCorporation.ActewAGLisresponsibletorepairandmaintainbranch-linesandmainstoastandardrequiredtoachieveitscontractualandstatutoryobligations.

ConditionsforreimbursementofclaimsbyActewAGLActewAGLwillreimburseclaimsforinvestigatoryworkonapropertyowner’ssanitarydrainagesystemthatarenomoreextensivethanisnecessarytodemonstratethatablockageisintheACTEWCorporationmainorbranchline.Wewillnotpayforloss,damageorretrievalofequipment,eelsorCCTVcameras.

WhereeverpossiblereimbursementclaiminvoicesaretobesubmittedbythedrainerdirectlytoActewAGL,nottothecustomerforpayment.

Workpaiddirectlybythecustomerisbestrestrictedtoworkassociatedwithblockagesintheinternalsanitarydrains,notintheACTEWnetwork.Claimssubmittedbytheleaseholderwillbeconsidered,butwillrequirevalidationfromthedrainer.Needlessprocessingdelaysmayresult.

Claimsmustbesubmittedwithinthreemonthsofthecompletionofthework. ClaimsmustbesubmittedbyadrainerthatislicensedtooperateintheACT. DrainageworkmustbedoneinstrictconformitytoBEPCON‘MinorWorksPermit’conditions,

BEPCONplumbingnotesandAS3500Part2. Claimswillnotbepaidunlessobjectiveevidenceissuppliedtoconclusivelydemonstratethat

theblockagewasintheACTEWsewermainorbranch-line. ActewAGLwillnotreimburseclaimsforblockagesthathaveresultedfromtheentryof

unapprovednon-domesticwastesfromtheproperty.(SeeSection4,‘MinimisingRisks’) Claimsaretobesupportedbynumberedinvoicesdetailinglabour,materials,plantand

equipmentcoststogetherwithadescriptionoftheworkundertaken.Supportingdocumentationistoincludethecustomer’sname,housenumber,streetname(orblockandsection),suburb,date(s)attending,acopyoftheBEPCON‘MinorWorksPermit’,drainersphonenumber,faxandpostaladdress.

ActewAGLwillpayreasonableindustryratescommensuratewiththescopeandcomplexityofthework.(Aguide‘Scheduleofrates’isavailableonrequest).

Thedraineristoundertakeallnecessaryinternalsanitary-drainagework,togetherwithreinstatementofthelandscapeonthecustomer’sproperty,tothesatisfactionofthecustomer.ActewAGLwillonlypayforrepairstopathsanddrivewaysoutsidetheleaseboundarytothevalueofstandardconcreteorbitumen.Theadditionalcostofspecial(forexample,stamped,coloured,cobblestone,andsoon)finishesmustbebornebytheleaseholder.Costsfortherepairorreplacementofunapprovedencumbrancesoverthedrainaretobepaidbythepropertyowner.

Legalactionmaybetakenwherethereisevidenceoffraud. DisputesaretobesubmittedinthefirstinstancetotheManagerNetworkCustomerSupport

(ActewAGL,Waterdivision).Thecontactnumberis62483555(press2forwater).