Municipal plumbers commonly find themselves dealing with clogged pipes and drains. But these are not all. Learn more about common city and county plumbing problems and how they can be solved.
Budgeting For Municipal Plumbing Problems
Assessing unanticipated plumbing difficulties throughout the budgeting process for municipal decision-makers may be onerous. When plumbing problems arise, communities must act fast to ensure that companies and residents in their vicinity are adequately protected. There needs to be a fund dedicated to city-wide emergency repairs, or else the entire community could be negatively affected if they are not able to be resolved quickly.
Common Plumbing Issues in Cities
Although you can’t foresee when a plumbing issue may arise, it’s a good idea to be prepared and have municipal sewer repair on hand in case one comes. Below is a list of plumbing issues that face communities on a regular basis that you should be aware of.
Fatbergs & Clogs
Homeowners may not think twice about flushing “flushable wipes” or other things other than toilet paper down the toilet. However, strange objects flushed down the drain by householders may wreak havoc on public plumbing.
Though flushable wipes and paper towels seem to be similar to toilet paper, they wreak havoc on pipes and have become a major concern for municipal plumbing systems around the nation. Toilet paper dissolves in the same manner that flushable wipes do not. While toilet paper is meant to swiftly degrade once flushed, making it safe for sewage systems, alternatives like wet wipes degrade considerably more slowly and may clump together in tight masses as they travel down sewer pipes. These masses choke sewage mainlines and, in the worst-case scenario, inflict serious damage to water treatment equipment.
Fatbergs, or municipal sewage obstruction nightmares, may result if these jams collect sufficiently. Fatbergs are congealed masses in sewage systems that occur when grease and non-biodegradable materials such as wet wipes and other items accumulate. Other materials discovered in fatbergs include fake teeth, pens, and even watches. Baby wipes, paper towels, and grease are regular culprits in these real-life sewer monsters, but other objects found in fatbergs include false teeth, pens, and even watches. Fatbergs may weigh hundreds of pounds and extend to gigantic lengths; one discovered in a Liverpool sewer was over 275 feet in length and weighed about 200,000 pounds – about the same as 13 African elephants!
These nasty masses have the potential to totally clog whole city sewage systems, sending the vile sludge back into houses, highways, and other places where it may escape. Clogs and fatbergs are tough to remove for plumbers and might take weeks to clear.
Signs of bad municipal plumbing can even be visible in your home when you notice a decrease in the water pressure, an increase in the noise level, or a change in the sound of running water. The most common signs of bad plumbing are leaks and clogs.
Sewer Lines That Have Failed
Municipal sewer lines are integral for keeping city plumbing operating. These community sewer lines are usually large conduits that move wastewater from dozens of homes to a municipal connection daily. Sewer Lines That Have Failed can result in a host of municipal plumbing problems and can put entire neighborhoods at risk for potential health hazards.
A sinking or fracturing surface above the failing pipe is a sign of a failing municipal sewage system. Broken pipes may cause floods at treatment plants and hazardous discharge, contaminating municipal water lines. Surface excavations may cause traffic interruptions for weeks by damaging roads, buildings, walkways, and utilities.
This does not have to be the case, though. There is no need to disturb traffic since trenchless technology and manhole-to-manhole linings have removed the need to pull up highways and walkways while replacing sewage systems. Lining manholes to manholes may save communities tens of thousands of dollars in sewer rehabilitation costs by:
- Fill up complete portions of pipe that are missing or damaged.
- Seal cracks caused by the environment or moving earth.
- Most natural obstructions and intrusions should be renovated.
- Repair any faulty joint connections or offsets.
- Fill sewage pipes ranging in diameter from 2″ to 12″.
Manhole-to-manhole lining may maintain municipal plumbing at optimal performance for over 50 years after the procedure is completed and a sewer video inspection can examine the new sewer line.
Pipes That Are Becoming Old
Municipal plumbing problems occur with sewer lines generally due to Pipes that are becoming old. Many city plumbing lines are easily 40 or 50 years in age, if not older in some cases. Some cities even have municipal pipes lines that are over 100 years old! These pipes were built with materials never intended to last this long, so many pipelines need replacing before they fail and cause catastrophic plumbing damage.
Municipal lines, for example, may be equipped with decades-old Orangeburg sewage pipes. Orangeburg pipes were only supposed to last 50 years, but after 30 years of service, many systems started to fail. The substance utilized to make the pipe, which is essentially asphalt-soaked paper and pulp, caused the majority of the structural issues. If left unattended, old pipe lines may ultimately collapse, resulting in costly municipal sewage repairs and substantial property damage.
Municipal plumbing services often employ video inspection equipment to pinpoint the cause of issues while inspecting pipe networks. There are a few dig-free sewer repair options available once the damage has been evaluated, such as manhole-to-manhole lining and trenchless pipe lining.
Replacing old sewer lines and pipes can be a big, dirty, and expensive project when using traditional trenching methods. For an alternative, see When Should You Consider Pipe Bursting?
You Can Count On Municipal Plumbing Services
Municipal plumbing problems are not only a nuisance in the city, but they may also pose a health risk to residents and the water supply. You should always choose pros that have expertise with city plumbing repairs when hiring professionals for municipal plumbing services.
Don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber immediately for a CIPP consultation or sewage line video inspection if you’re struggling with municipal sewer line failure or corrosion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common plumbing problems?
A: A blocked sink can be remedied by using a plunger to push the clog out of the drain. If this doesn’t work, you may need professional help from a plumber.
What are common drain pipe problems?
A: There are a few common problems with drainpipes and they can be identified by the following signs:
- If there is water pooling around the pipe.
- The metal surface of your sink becomes warm to touch when you put your hands underneath it.
- Air bubbles in any faucet or drainpipe that has been installed.
How do you diagnose plumbing problems?
A: If you are having a clogged drain, your first step should be to pour vinegar into the sink and let it sit for 30 minutes. After that time has passed, use a plunger or try using the following steps without putting anything else in the sink: Pour boiling water down onto stuck objects- this will loosen them up enough so they can pass through easily. Alternatively, fill an empty toilet bowl with 1/2 of water and try pouring grease from dishes or food on top of it -this loosens any stubborn clogs as well as gets rid of smells often associated with sinks!
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