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Wastewater

Show All Answers

1. Who do I call if I have a sewer backup?

Call 513-858-7760 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. During normal business hours, your questions will be answered by a collection system employee. After 3:30 p.m. and until 11 p.m., the plant operator will take your call and contact an employee immediately to respond. During heavy rain events, calls will be responded to in the order they are received. During the hours between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., contact the Water Treatment Plant at 513-858-7775.

2. My sanitary sewer is backing up. What should I do?

First, immediately stop all water usage, as backups are typically caused by plumbing problems within your home or business. Turn off washing machines, dishwashers, showers, and anything that uses water.

Second, after stopping all water usage, contact the Wastewater Treatment Facility at 513-858-7760 during the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Your questions will be answered by a Wastewater professional and, if needed, a crew will be dispatched to the your home or business in a timely manner (during heavy rain events, calls will be responded to in the order they are received). During the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., contact the Water Plant at 513-858-7775. The Plant Operator will pass the complaint to the proper Wastewater personnel who will respond to the complaint.

3. Who do I call about odor problems in my home?

You may contact the wastewater plant at 513-858-7760 to ask questions about odors. A collection system employee will answer your questions and, if needed, send a crew to your home. The employee will also be able to tell you if the collection system is cleaning lines in your area that may cause a temporary odor. Most odor problems are caused by a dry trap, adding water to all your traps usually eliminates the odor.

4. Who do I call about storm sewer problems?

The City's Public Works Department maintains storm sewers. You can call them at 513-867-4200. Storm sewers are identified as the large grates in streets and near curbs.

5. I see raw sewage coming out of a manhole. What should I do?

This is called a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) and needs to be reported immediately. During the hours of 7a.m. and 11p.m., contact the Wastewater Treatment Facility at 513-858-7760, and during the hours of 11p.m. and 7a.m., contact the Water Plant at 513-858-7775.

6. Is my home or property connected to the sanitary sewers?

To find out if a specific home or business is connected to the City of Fairfield's sewer system, please call 513-858-7760. This service is free to anyone who calls.

7. Why do collection crews cross my property?

It is unfortunate that in some cases utilities are located behind or adjacent to home or business owner's property. The Wastewater Collection Division has to access the sanitary sewer manholes to perform routine and emergency maintenance. Easement agreements are written so that we are allowed to cross the property to perform the work. The Wastewater Collection Division makes every effort to contact the property owners when it is necessary to enter private property to perform the work.

8. How can my sewer lateral be accessed?

Your sewer lateral can be accessed through your clean-out. A clean-out is typically found in your basement, or outside property where the lateral exits your home or business. A clean-out typically has a threaded cap 4 inches to 6 inches in diameter.

9. I can smell sewer odors in my house, what is causing this?

Sewer odors can be caused by a number of things, a dry trap, blocked vent stack, cracked pipes, or a sour garbage disposal. If it's a blocked vent stack or cracked pipe, a plumber will need to be contacted. Sometimes a garbage disposal will go sour, grinding up ice-cubes in the disposal will take care of this problem. The most common cause of sewer odors in your home or business is a dry trap. Traps will dry out more frequently in the winter months, by simply adding water to all the traps in your home or business typically will eliminate the odor.

10. I can smell sewer odors outside my house, what's causing this?

During the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., contact the Wastewater Treatment Facility at 513-858-7760. Your questions will be answered by a Wastewater professional, and a crew will be dispatched to your home or business in a timely manner (during heavy rain events, calls will be responded to in the order they are received). During the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., contact the Water Plant at 513-858-7775. The Plant Operator will pass the complaint to the proper Wastewater personnel who will respond to the complaint.

11. I have experienced a sewer backup. How do I clean and disinfect the area?

Please view this procedure for cleaning "flooded basements".

Clean-up Procedures for Flooded Basements (PDF)

12. I recently had a sewer backup in my house. What caused it?

On Monday through Friday, during the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., contact the Wastewater Treatment Facility at 513-858-7760. The collection department will make an appointment with you to come to your home or business and perform a miniature camera inspection on your sanitary service lateral and diagnose the problem. This is a free service for our community.

13. What causes sewer backups?

Lots of things can cause a sanitary sewer to back up. Sometimes people flush things down their toilet that are not meant to be flushed. Cooking grease can build up on the walls of your sanitary sewer lateral over time if it's disposed down your drain. But the most common cause for a backup is roots. Trees and shrubs need water and nutrients, and what better place than a sewer lateral. The roots will enter the lateral through the joints in the sewer pipe, the roots will grow, and eventually plug the pipe solid. 

Sewer Root Control page.

14. What is my responsibility for the sewer as a home or business owner compared to the City's responsibility?

It is the home or business owner's responsibility to maintain the sewer lateral from the home or business to the sewer main. It is the City's responsibility to maintain the sewer main.

15. Who do I call if the sewer backup is my responsibility?

A plumber or drain cleaning company.

16. What is a sewer lateral?

A sewer lateral is a sewer pipe that connects your home or business to the sanitary sewer main.

17. I need to repair or replace my sewer line. What should I do?

This can be very costly, please give us a call at the Wastewater Treatment Facility at 513-858-7760, as we may have some suggestions or alternatives for you to consider. If you do need to have repair or replacement preformed, only a licensed plumber by the City of Fairfield can perform the task. Any plumber can apply for a license at the: Wastewater Treatment Facility 4799 Groh Lane Fairfield, OH 45014

18. Where is the Wastewater Treatment Facility located?

We're at 4799 Groh Lane, past Waterworks Park, and just past the Fairfield Youth Football fields adjacent to the Great Miami River.

19. What are the hours of operation for the plant?

A Plant Operator is on staff from 7a.m. to 11p.m., seven days a week.

20. Can I visit the plant?

Sure, just give us a call Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 513-858-7760, to set up a plant tour.

21. Does water from the storm drain system go through the Wastewater Plant as well?

Our collection system is designed for sanitary sewage only. But unfortunately during heavy rain periods, storm water will infiltrate our system.

22. Where does the water leaving the wastewater treatment plant go?

We discharge our final effluent into the Lower Great Miami River.