Roots in Lateral Program
A common reported issue from Johnson County Wastewater customers is roots in the service lateral. Customers will often report slow drains or slow flowing drains. Common symptoms may include minor wet areas around basement floor drains and possible gurgling in toilets.
Roots that grow within the service lateral may occur from damage in the lateral, like small cracks and breaks from age and soil compaction. A warm, moist, nutrient rich environment are a perfect environment for root growth. These roots may grow in a large mass, then they can block or slow the homes sanitary sewer discharge. This may lead to backups within the home
The best way for a homeowner to protect against issues like roots in the service lateral is have the sanitary sewer service lateral inspected by a licensed plumber.
Who is responsible for my home's service lateral?
The pipe that connects your home to JCW’s public sanitary sewer main is private property. This pipe is known as the home’s service line, or service lateral. As the owner of the service line, homeowners are responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of their private service line and its connection point on the public sanitary sewer main.
Private Service Lines and Connections
Johnson County Wastewater does not repair nor maintain private service lines and connections.
Steps to prevent or repair root issues
You may wish to have the service lateral inspected using a CCTV camera, this can determine the current condition and if repairs are needed.
It may be important to schedule regular cleanings of the service lateral. Cable machines using augers/saws or high-pressure nozzles are often used to clean the service lateral.
Open Cut Replacement/Repair – The traditional method of digging a trench to remove and replace the damaged service lateral. This may include the entire service lateral or only the damaged areas.
Trenchless – Sewer pipe liners can be installed without much digging. A cured in place liner is inserted into the existing sewer lateral and essentially creates a new pipe inside of the damaged pipe.
Contact
Should your service line need to be repaired or replaced, please make certain that you or your plumber contacts JCW at 913-715-8520 for more information.
FAQs
Sanitary sewers collect and carry wastewater from toilets, showers, bathtubs, sinks, laundry machines, etc., from inside your home to a wastewater treatment plant where it gets treated/processed before being discharged into local streamways.
Storm sewers on the other hand, collect and carry stormwater from roadways, parking lots, driveways and lawn areas to streamways with no physical treatment. Storm sewers are maintained by the local city in which they are located.
No. Johnson County Wastewater is a sanitary sewer provider in Johnson County. We are a county department that operates under the Johnson County Board of Commissioners.
WaterOne is a drinking water provider for Johnson County. They operate under their own governing board.
JCW has crews cleaning, inspecting and repairing sewer lines year-round as part of its ongoing maintenance program. Their presence does not necessarily mean there is an issue with the sanitary sewer in your neighborhood, but the trucks and crew are a part of JCW’s continued maintenance program.
If the JCW manhole is in the backyard and access is needed for system maintenance, JCW crews will knock on the door to notify customer of this request for access to the backyard. If crews are unable to access the yard (gate is locked or dog in yard), crews will leave notification requesting access.
The pipe that connects your home to JCW’s public sanitary sewer main is private property. This pipe is known as the home’s service line, or service lateral. As the owner of the service line, homeowners are responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of their private service line and its connection point on the public sanitary sewer main.
Should your service line need to be repaired or replaced, please make certain that you or your plumber contacts JCW at 913-715-8520 for more information.