Sewage Overflow Basics and the Role of the Homeowner

Sewage 101 sewer system, which is the set This inflow results in overload- Everyday, we flush the toilet, of pipes designed to carry only ing and overflows. Many drain dirty bath water or perhaps wastewater. The pipes are not communities now test for pour old cooking oil down the able tohandle the extra volume of improper or poor connections sink drain without thinking stormwater during rainy with a dye that traces the path aboutwhere it goes next. weather, so raw sewage over- of stormwater from your home’s flows into our waterways before drains and rain spouts. Hom- The wastewater or sewage we reaching the treatment plant. eowners are responsible for generate in our homes travels Most newer communities have removing improper connections through a pipe, called a house these separate sanitary sewer and repairing deteriorated lateral, that connects your home systems; the stormwater is laterals. New technologies can to the public sewage system. carried in a separate system and make parts of the repair possible During dry weather, the sewage is discharged directly into our without digging up a homeown- is adequately transported to the rivers and streams. However, er’s property. treatment plant. However, during some older communities have rainy weather, much of the combined sewer systems, which Stormwater can also enter the sewage overflows into our carry both waste and stormwater sanitary system through cracked streams and rivers before it in the same set of pipes. Check or broken pipes. This is called reaches the treatment plant. with your municipality to find infiltration. Allegheny County These overflows contaminate our out which type of system your suffers from a deteriorated and local waterways where families community uses. aging sewer system, which swim, boat and fish. increases the likelihood of How does stormwater infiltration during wet weather. With an average annual rainfall get into a sanitary of 37.5 inches in Allegheny sewer system? Why is the sewage County, the sewage overflow A significant part of the overflow overflow issue problem has become critical. problem is linked to improperly important? connected roof and driveway These overflows not only violate What causes the drains and deteriorating house the federal Clean Water Act, but sewage to overflow? laterals, which allow stormwater they cause a host of other During wet weather (rain or to get into a separate sanitary problems for communities and snowmelt), too much stormwater sewer system. the region as a whole. gets into the separate sanitary -over- • Raw sewage in our waterways organization committed to seep out to water your yard or causes a public health risk. improving our region’s water garden. This helps to control quality, communities mapped stormwater, which contributes • Families in downstream com- 4,000 miles of sewer collection to sewage overflows polluting munities may experience system, completed flow monitor- our waterways. A rain garden chronic basement backups. ing, which measures how much of native plants can hold large wastewater (and in some cases amounts of rainwater for up to 48 • Water quality may be unaccept- stormwater) the sewer system is hours, slowly releasing it through able for boating, swimming carrying during both dry and wet the soil or allowing plants to soak or fishing for many days after it weather, and completed feasibil- it up. stops raining. ity studies, which examine alter- natives for reducing, conveying, Another way homeowners can • Children can be exposed to storing, or treating wastewater. help is to support their munici- raw sewage from overflowing pality’s efforts to rehabilitate the manholes in the street or by This information helps commu- public sewage system in order playing in streams and creeks. nities develop a long-term wet to comply with the EPA order. weather control plan, in coopera- Fixing the problem in Allegheny • 90% of Allegheny County tion with ALCOSAN to sustain County will require a residents get their drinking rehabilitation efforts into the substantial financial investment water from the three rivers. future. and while municipalities are seeking the most cost- • Overflows can kill fish and What is my role as effective methods for a solution, other river and plant life. a homeowner? homeowners can expect As a homeowner, you can check higher sewage rates over the • It impedes economic develop- with your municipality to find coming years. It will take the ment because communities can out if your community uses a cooperation and support of be restricted from tapping into separate sanitary sewer system. many individuals and communi- sewers to build new houses or If your community has a separate ties to ensure a solution that businesses until the problem sanitary system, ask the munici- will protect our region’s water is corrected. pality how you can have your resources. stormwater drains tested to What is being done ensure they are not improperly For more information about the problem? connected to the sewer system. Contact your municipality In early 2004, the Environmental for more specific information Protection Agency distributed an If your storm drains are connect- about the sewer system in administrative consent order ed to the sewer system, you your community. To learn more requiring the 83 Allegheny may want to consult a profes- about the wet weather issue, visit County Sanitary Authority sional to correct the problem. the 3RWW web site at (ALCOSAN) communities to www.3riverswetweather.org complete specific activities, such Consider installing a rain barrel as mapping, cleaning and televis- or rain garden on your property. ing the sewer system and making During wet weather, a rain barrel critical repairs. collects stormwater through your home’s downspout. During With the help of 3 Rivers Wet dry weather, a hose connected Weather (3RWW) a non-profit to the barrel allows water to

3901 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Ph: 412.578.8375 Fax: 412.578.8065 www.3riverswetweather.org