Sewer

Sewer System Information

     The City of Monticello owns, operates, and maintains the Sanitary Sewer Collection System and Lagoon Treatment Ponds. This system includes miles of pipeline, manholes, and four treatment ponds. The sewer department performs regular maintenance on all areas of the system to ensure that the sewer system runs as trouble free as possible and to minimize any problems.  

   Each year the Sewer Department cleans approximately one-half (1/2) of the City's sewer collection lines. These lines are cleaned by using high powered sewer jetter equipment.  A cleaning nozzle is propelled from one manhole to the next using high pressure water(around 2000 PSI).  The nozzle is then pulled back to the starting manhole.  As the nozzle is pulled back, the high-pressure water jets are blasting the inside of the pipe, scraping away grease, sludge buildup, and even tree roots. Some sections of sewer line are very old and require cleaning more frequently.  

Important Things to Remember

    There are things that each resident and business owner can do to help minimize expensive sewer line repairs. These practices help keep things out of a sewer line that should not be there.

The first item that should be kept in mind is that each home and business is responsible for the sewer line from their building all the way to where the line connects to the sewer main line. This section is known as the sewer lateral and is not maintained or cleaned by the City of Monticello. If this section of pipe is plugged, it is the property owner who has the responsibility to fix it.

You can reduce potential problems by following some simple rules:

     *Do not dump grease from cooking down the drain.

     *If using a garbage disposal, minimize the amount of food by scraping plates with leftover food into the garbage. Do not put eggshells in disposal.

     *Never flush diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons/applicators, rags, or other objects. 

     *Never flush wet wipes even though they say flushable on the container. THEY PLUG UP SEWER LINES!

     *Do not dump gas, paint, antifreeze, or other chemicals down the drain. These things harm the treatment process of the sewer lagoons.

Sewer Backups

     If you suspect that your sewer line is plugged, or even partially plugged, take immediate action. These problems won't go away on their own. If you are uncertain where the blockage is, contact Monticello City. The City will inspect the sewer main through a manhole to determine if there is a blockage in the sewer main line. If the blockage is not in the main line, the blockage is in the lateral between the main line and the building. If that is the case, you will be advised to contact a plumber or drain cleaning service.