About Sewer Services

Wastewater from homes and businesses travels through miles of sewer lines to get to our Lakota and Redondo Wastewater Treatment Plants. The sewer system, or wastewater collection system, consists of 312 miles of sewer lines (including gravity pipe and pressurized force mains),  and 32 pump stations including 3 that Lakehaven Water and Sewer District maintains under contract with the City of Edgewood.

Our Wastewater Operation and Field Operation departments work together to operate and maintain the sewer system, including cleaning sewer mains, conducting smoke and dye testing to reduce infiltration and inflow, and other corrective and preventative maintenance activities.


 

Public Sewer System vs. Private Plumbing 


Who's Responsible?

 

             underground pipes depicting cut-offs at joints where district and residents responsibility starts and ends                    

Lakehaven Water and Sewer District owns and operates sewer mains in the public right of way. We are not responsible for private plumbing systems or the sewer line between the sewer main and your home.


 
  
What Not to Flush

 
If you're wondering what you should and shouldn't flush, here’s a good rule of thumb:
Only flush pee, poo and toilet paper! When you use the toilet to dispose of things that should go in the trash, you risk clogging your home’s sewer pipes and our sewer lines in the street. 

In severe cases, clogs can cause sewer back-ups in your home or overflows in the street. It’s important to remember that whatever goes down the toilet can potentially impact the water environment, so if in doubt, trash it!



Wipes and Grease Clog Pipes


The two biggest causes of sewer clogs are “flushable” wipes and fats, oil and grease (FOG). 
 
Unlike toilet paper, which breaks down quickly in water, wet wipes remain intact and tangle into massive clogs that jam pumps and block pipes. Even those labeled "flushable" should not be flushed.

Grease cools as it travels through pipes. Over time, the accumulation of grease can block pipes, and other fatty substances contribute to clogs, so dispose of all fats, oils, and grease in the trash, not down the drain.

DO NOT FLUSH DISPOSABLE WIPES!

Wipes_1807566904

Even when the package says it's flushable?

Yes. Disposable wipes have been causing problems in communities around the country and the Lakehaven Water and Sewer District is no different. Wipes — used for changing diapers, personal hygiene, housecleaning, and more — cause major problems when flushed down toilets. Though many of these products are labeled “flushable” or “septic safe,” they are anything but. Just because a product CAN be flushed doesn’t mean it SHOULD be flushed.

Because they don’t break down the way toilet paper does, disposable wipes clog homeowner and municipal sewer pipes, put stress on community wastewater collection and treatment equipment, and cause sewer districts to spend thousands on premature equipment repair and replacement. Wipes snag on any imperfection in sewer pipes, catch passing debris and grease, and create a “ball” that will grow to plug the pipe. They also get drawn into sewer-line and wastewater treatment plant pumps and clog and damage them.
In addition to the wipes problem, customers are also flushing other trash such as: paper towels, facial tissue, diapers, menstrual products, dental floss, swabs, etc. that are also problematic for sewer districts.

The solution is simple – if you provide a trash can conveniently located near toilets, you can help make sure these troublesome products are disposed of properly. (Be sure to bag this waste to protect collection workers.)