Here is some guidance for municipalities and utilities courtesy of Vactor Manufacturing about maintaining a sewer system.

Treat blockages quickly: As trash, sand, leaves and tree roots build up, blockages occur. These can lead to severe flooding. That’s why it’s imperative to treat a blockage as soon as possible. It’s an emergency that needs dealing with immediately so the problem doesn’t become even larger.

Establish a routine program: One of the best ways to avoid a blockage and flooding is to have a regular sewer cleaning program. That way debris buildup doesn’t occur. How often you clean a sewer line will depend on certain variables, including age, location and what season it is. The fall and spring timeframes are likely to produce more buildup.

Utilize combination sewer cleaners: Combination sewer cleaners provide efficiency and productivity. For example at Vactor, the iMPACT is maneuverable and able to fit in confined spaces, yet its Jet Rodder water pump enables continuous flows through its entire operating range. It delivers operator ease while also being ideal for cleaning sanitary/storm sewers. Also, the Vactor Water Recycling System can save utilities hundreds of thousands of gallons of fresh water every year as sewer lines are maintained and repaired.

Start before the sewer: When it comes to buildup in the sewer, one helpful way of decreasing that buildup is to ensure some of those materials never reach the sewer. Part of that involves educating residents and businesses in your community about waste. The other part involves cleaning off the streets. For example, regular street sweeping can keep leaves, sand and other debris from ending up in the sewer.

Train your team: Whether you hire an outside contractor or employ an internal team, ensure they’re trained for handling sewer cleaning properly. This includes being able to understand how much pressure to apply to clear a blockage. Vactor’s IntuiTouch one-touch in-cab controls along with its IntuiTouch control panel help operators by combining cleaning functions into one panel that can be used with the touch of a button.

For more information, visit Vactor.com.