Storm drains, catch basins and lines from a storm sewer system to redirect run-off created during a rain event. They are not a sanitary sewer, where wastewater from toilets are sent to a treatment plant to be cleaned. Storm sewers redirect runoff formed during rain or snow events into a system of catch basins and…

A culvert is a tunnel that runs beside (or under) a road or driveway. Culverts allow the continued flow of storm runoff water to a place where it can collect and drain into a larger drain system or into the ground. Over time, culverts tend to fill up and become blocked with both natural debris,…

A sanitary sewer, or foul sewer, is an underground pipe system for transporting sewage (not storm water) from commercial facilities to treatment plants to be filtered, treated and discharged. There are two types of sanitary sewage: domestic sewage from houses and apartments, and industrial sewage from manufacturing or chemical processes. A storm sewer is a…

Lift stations are pumping stations in sanitary sewer and storm collection systems. They are designed to move raw sewage from lower to higher elevations, where it is more efficient to use gravity to collect the waste to the main line. If a lift station fails (e.g., force main break, power outage, or pump failure) wastewater…

Lateral lines run from a septic system to the drain field. Contaminants, pollutants and pathogens are filtered out in the septic biomat containing aerobic bacteria. The remaining effluent flows through lateral lines to equally distribute effluent throughout the field. A properly installed lateral line system should last up to 20 years. The life of the…

Hydro-evacuation is used for pipe, pole and utility cable installations, location and maintenance. Subsurface utilities are a part of most all construction projects. To traditionally dig or excavate channels for pipes and cables carries safety risks to personnel and traffic from heavy equipment close by the dig area. During hydro-excavation, the truck can be positioned…

A wastewater (sewage) treatment plant is a facility that converts wastewater into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle. Built-up sludge in pits and wells at the treatment plant can negatively affect the wastewater treatment process. In the initial or primary treatment, the sewage is put in large tanks or ponds to…