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MINIMIZING SEWER OVERFLOWS AND DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME The sewer system within the City of Palmdale is comprised of a series of underground pipes. Sewer mainlines are publicly owned, however, sewer laterals are entirely owned by the private property they serve. The laterals extend from the building to the mainline within the street (or within an easement at the rear or side of your home). The laterals are typically four inches in diameter while the City’s mainline is at least eight inches in diameter. The property owner is responsible for maintaining the entire length of the lateral. This includes the portion that is located within the public right of way (under the landscaping, sidewalk, and pavement). Plumbing backups can cause tremendous damage to the interior of a home. In order to minimize this risk, the City provides continual maintenance services for the public sewer mainlines. Unfortunately, most sewer laterals are not maintained by property owners until a disaster strikes. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a typical approach to sewer lateral maintenance. It is our hope that we can provide you with several solutions to avoid plumbing problems before they occur. 1. Maintain your sewer lateral. a. Periodic lateral cleaning and inspection will help you avoid plumbing backups. b. Tree roots can crush lateral piping. repair or replace damaged laterals. 2. Do not connect roof drains to the lateral or place improper items down drainage fixtures. a. Keep rainwater out of the sewer line. Drainage overwhelms the sewer mainline capacity and can cause sewer overflows and lateral backups. b. Do not pour Fats, Oils, or Grease (FOG) down your drains. These products cool, harden, and stick to the inside of the sewer pipes. Over time, build up and blockages will occur in the sewer lateral. c. Remember, a toilet is not a trash can! 3. Install a cleanout on your sewer lateral. This will allow easy access for maintenance. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT PALMDALE SEWER MAINTENANCE: (661) 267-5272.