Sewer blockages and surcharges - Wybalena Grove · 3 2. Sewer blockages Signs Signs of a sewer...
Transcript of Sewer blockages and surcharges - Wybalena Grove · 3 2. Sewer blockages Signs Signs of a sewer...
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.
CC
A 1
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27 K
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
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Contents
�. Sewagesurchargeintotheproperty
Emergencyproceduresfortheresident
Surcharge
Accesspit(manhole)overflows
2. Sewerblockages
Signs
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
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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.
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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).
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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.
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3. Components of the sewer system
Shallowsewertie
Deepsewertie
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Multipleriserstodeepmain
Directconnectionintoanaccesspit
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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.
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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.
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Examplesoftreesandshrubsthataresuitableforplantingwiththematurecanopy*nocloserthantwometresfrompipes:
Botanicalname Localname
Acaciabuxifolia Box-leavedWattleBanksiaericifolia HeathBanksiaCallistemoncitrinus CrimsonBottlebrushEuonymusJaponica EvergreenSpindleTreeGenistatinctoria BroomLogerstroemiaindica PinkCrepeMyrtleMalus(species) FloweringCrabapplesNeriumoeander OleanderPyracantha(species) FirethornViburnumlinus Laurustinus
Examplesoftreesandshrubsthataresuitableforplantingwiththematurecanopy*nocloserthanfourmetresfrompipes:
Botanicalname Localname
Angophoracostata Smooth-barkedAppleMyrtleBetulapendula SilverBirchEucalyptuscinerea ArgyleAppleFraxinusexcelsior“Aurea” GoldenAshMelaleaucaarmillaris BraceletHoneymyrtleM.styphelioides PricklyPaperbarkSophorajaponica PagodaTreeSorbusaucuparia Rowan,MountainAshWisteriasinensis ChineseWisteria
ExamplesoftreesthatareNOTsuitableforplantinginthesuburbanenvironment:
Botanicalname Localname
Acernegundo BoxElderMapleCasuarinacunninghamiana RiverOakCeltisaustralis SouthernNettleTreeE.globulus CalifornianBlueGumE.sideroxylon MuggaorRedIronbarkFraxinusoxycarpa DesertorCaucasianAshPinus(species) PinesPopulus(species) PoplarsQuercus(species) OaksSalix(species) WillowsUlmus(species) Elms
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*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.
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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).
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.
CC
A 1
106_
27 K
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