CLEARFIELD, Utah (KUTV) — Some homeowners affected by the sewage backup believe the city of Clearfield should pay for the cleanup.
The city said in a statement that it inspects and cleans sewer mains on a rotating basis, and that the area from 11 p.m. South to 24 p.m. South of Main Street was serviced eight months ago.
The Boyers sold their Main Street home two weeks ago and were planning to move this weekend before Monday’s sewage backup derailed their plans.
“Yesterday, a couple of guys came through the front door and said they were checking every house on this street because there was flooding from a sewer backflow,” Bob Boyer said. “Sure enough, there’s water in the bathroom, utility room, and one of the bedrooms.”
Learn more | Massive sewage blockage backs up into 5 homes in Clearfield
The city said the blockage was caused by a “fatberg,” a blockage of fat and grease that people improperly dumped down the drain. But Boyer disagreed with the city’s explanation and said the city was not responsible for the incident.
“That’s more hearsay than anything,” he said. “They have no way of knowing who did it, how much it cost, or whether it was even caused by grease.”
Boyer said the city is not helping pay for the cleanup. He said his insurance should cover it, but he still has to pay a deductible and worries about other households in the neighborhood.
“Many of them spend far more money on our repairs than we pay them, and they have nothing to do with it. It’s totally unfair,” Boyer said.
2News asked the city whether homeowners would be liable for damages if an accident occurs on the city line.
In response, the city responded that it was still investigating the cause and had no information on who would bear the burden. They said homes and businesses do not control the water they run, and said, “If someone frequently pours oil down the drain, it can cause blockages in the city’s sewer mains and affect homes and businesses connected to the sewer mains.”
Boyer said he is disappointed in the city’s response.
“Having everyone pay thousands of dollars in repairs and then blaming the house without any evidence is the only way the city will back off,” he said.
2News sent the following questions to the city.
- Did the sewage blockage, or “fatberg,” occur within the city limits? If so, is the city fully responsible for compensating the homeowner for the damages?
- If not, why is it the homeowner’s responsibility to contact their insurance for basement cleaning?
- What are the homeowner’s responsibilities when it comes to sewer lines? One homeowner told me about the siding and the need for special insurance for it. Can you tell me something about this?
- Is the city doing anything to prevent blockages like this from happening again? Is there anything I can do?
- Is there a way for the city to monitor sewer pipes to check for blockages or areas of concern and prevent such situations from occurring?
- Is there a timeline for when these affected homeowners will be able to see a solution to this issue?
They responded with the following statement:
“The city maintains all sewer mains. Homeowners maintain the sewer laterals that connect their homes to the main sewer line.
Sewer laterals are the pipes that connect all toilets, floor drains, bathtub drains, sink drains, etc. to the city’s main sewer system. Anything that people flush or pour down the drain flows through the side walls of their home’s sewer line and into the city’s sewer system. That’s why it’s so important that residents and businesses don’t flush or flush anything down the drain that shouldn’t be flushed down the drain. Some insurance plans cover sewer-side issues, while others do not. Homeowners should check with their insurance company to make sure the water and sewer sides are covered. If not, there are other insurance agencies that specifically cover these, such as HomeServe and Service Line Warranties of America.
The sewer backup was caused by a grease blockage in the city’s sewer system. How it happened is still unknown. The city does not control what goes into toilets, sinks, or drains in homes and businesses. If someone frequently dumps oil down the drain, it can cause blockages in the city’s sewer mains, impacting homes and businesses connected to the sewer mains.
The city takes turns cleaning and inspecting all sewer mains. This particular one was serviced within the last 8 months. The best way to prevent such incidents from happening is for residents and businesses to never pour oil down sink drains or toilets and to prevent oil blockages. You should dispose of grease in a container with a lid, scrape up food and throw it in the trash, wipe grease off dishes before washing, use a sink strainer to catch food scraps, and minimize the use of the garbage disposal.
Residents are advised to contact their homeowner’s insurance to coordinate basement cleaning. The City of Clearfield sent information about the Sewer Cleanup Assistance Program to affected homes. ”
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