As the weather in Hampton Roads warms up and we begin to stretch our green thumbs, don’t forget to include your private sewer lateral and water line connection in your landscape plan. Since they are buried below ground most of the time, it’s “out of sight, out of mind.” But a little planning ahead can save you a lot of money later.
Before planting new trees or shrubs, locate your sanitary sewer cleanout and sanitary sewer lateral. Avoid planting any trees or shrubs directly over your lateral and, if you can, provide a clear zone on either side. Roots see a sanitary sewer lateral as a highly nutritious water source and will find their way inside it causing blockages and backups while growing. Most people do not realize that once past the sanitary sewer cleanout or meter box, they are the owners of the sanitary sewer lateral and water line, and as the owners, they are responsible for all maintenance and repairs, even at two o’clock in the morning when your sewer is backing up! Talk to your local landscape expert to identify trees and shrubs with less evasive root systems and plant them away from your sanitary sewer lateral to help avoid future problems.
Your sanitary sewer cleanout and water meter box also need to be accessible to your local water and sewer utility worker; this helps when they need to provide maintenance or repairs. They are usually located near the right of way along your front property line; don’t bury them or place plantings to cover them. Knowing where your utility connections are can help you be better prepared in case of a back-up or break, and helps you take preventative steps to avoid costly repairs in the future.
This article was contributed by Katherine Nixon, P.E. from the City of Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities.