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Line Maintenance
The line maintenance division is responsible for maintaining and operating the
entire wastewater collection system by providing preventative maintenance to existing lines,
replacing lines as needed, and installing new service connections. It is also responsible for
necessary repair, maintenance, and expansion of the wastewater collection system including all
wastewater lines, mains, manholes and service connections within the public right-of-way or
easements. This division responds to wastewater related emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
Grease - Public Enemy Number 1 for Sewer Lines
Grease is the #1 cause of sewer problems. Sewer backups can be greatly
reduced if grease is not put down household drains. Grease and cooking oil should be poured
into a can or other disposable container and put in the garbage. If all residents would
dispose of grease and oil properly, sewer line problems could be reduced. The accumulation of
fats, oil, and grease inside sewer pipes is one of the leading causes of sanitary sewer
overflows. The disposal of these materials into the sanitary sewer system can eventually
restrict the flow in the pipe and cause untreated wastewater to back up into homes and
businesses. In addition, manholes can overflow into parks, yards, streets, and storm drains,
thus impacting local water quality, including drinking water supplies. Restaurants spend
large amounts of money each year to keep their pipes free of fats, oil, and grease. Cities
spend large amounts as well to maintain their sanitary sewer systems. Preventing blockages
from fats, oil, and grease benefits both the city and it's residents. The following list of
Do's and Don'ts will help residents and their neighbors avoid expensive sewer backups,
plumbing emergencies, rate increases to cover maintenance and repairs, and help protect water
quality in the community.
DO:
Properly dispose of or recycle used cooking oil. To dispose of used oil,
place the used cooking oil in a sealable container and place it in the trash. To recycle
large amounts, from a catfish fry or from frying a turkey, contact a local recycler by looking in
the yellow pages. If you have a lot of oil to dispose of, use clay kitty litter. Just
mix the litter, a little at a time, into the oil. When all the oil has been absorbed, pour
the kitty litter into a trash bag, seal the bag, then dispose of it in your regular trash.
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Scrape food scraps into the trash, not the sink.
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Use dry paper towels to wipe pots, pans, and dishes before rinsing or washing
them.
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Place a catch basket or screen over the sink drain when rinsing dishware or when
peeling or trimming food to catch small scraps that would otherwise be washed down the drain.
Throw the scraps in the trash or compost pile.
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Rinse dishes and pans with cold water before putting them in the
dishwasher. Hot water melts the oil and grease off the dishes and into the sewer pipes.
Once in the pipes, the fats, oils, and grease will solidify and clog the lines.
DON'TS:
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Don't use a garbage disposal or food grinder. Grinding food up before
rinsing it down the drain does not remove fats, oil, and grease. It just makes the pieces
smaller. Even non-greasy food scraps can plug your sewer lines, so it is best not to put food
of any kind down the drain.
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Don't pour cooking oil, pan drippings, bacon grease, salad dressings, or sauces
down the sink, toilet, street gutters, or storm drains.
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Don't use cloth towels or rags to scrape plates or to clean greasy or oily
dishware. When you wash them, the grease will end up in the sewer.
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Don't run water over greasy dishes, pans, fryers, or griddles as this will wash
the oil and grease down the drain.
If your sewer backs up, please call the Water Utilities Department
immediately. A crew can make sure the blockage is not in the city-owned portion of the pipe
before you incur the expense of a private plumber. It is also a good idea for all property
owners and tenants to become familiar with the general layout of their plumbing system.
Especially the location of their sewer outlet or cleanout. The outlet/cleanout cover is
usually located in the yard and allows easy access to more distant parts of the private sewer line
so blockages may be removed. A plumber can help locate sewer outlets/cleanouts.
Residents can aid in preventing clogged sewer lines by not putting grease or greasy
food scraps down the sink or garbage disposal. Grease and meat drippings should be collected
in a disposable container and thrown into the trash. Another important issue is to make sure
the outlet/cleanout cover is over the opening to prevent rain water and other debris from entering
the line.
For Sewer Emergencies or additional information call (903) 935-4485 or contact:
Nancy Pasel - Treatment Superintendent
Water Utilities
Post Office Box 698
Marshall, Texas 75671-0698
(903) 935-4485
Brian Breeding - Director of Public Works and Water Utilities
Post Office Box 698
Marshall, Texas 75671-0698
(903) 935-4485
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