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Sewer/Drain/Plant Questions

How do I receive a utility locate for my project? 

Please call 811 or visit the 811 website to request a locate. 

Sewer pipes: What am I responsible for? 

The service line, also known as a lateral sewer, carries waste from your home toilets and drains to the District’s main sewer line, where it continues to the wastewater treatment plant. Most homeowners experience sewer problems in the service line, which they are responsible for maintaining and repairing.

House with main sewer and service line depicted
This graphic depicts the section of sewer line that is private and not serviced or repaired by the sewer company.

 

CHECK YOUR INSURANCE

All homeowners should be aware that not all homeowners’ insurance policies will cover costs incurred with sewer backing up in their home. A standard homeowner’s policy does not include coverage for water and sewer backup. If your service line should become plugged and sewer backs up in your home, it could do several thousand dollars’ worth of damage. Please check your policy or check with your agent to be sure you are covered should a mishap occur. Mostinsurance companies do offer just a water and sewer backup coverage by itself. We are only responsible for our main line, not your service line.

Visit the Drain Facts page for more information.

 

 

Sewer back-up, what should I do? 
  • Carefully close as many drains as you can.
  • Don’t run water down any drain or toilet in your home until the clogs are cleared up.
  • Call a plumber to investigate the backup.
  • Check to see if your neighbors are affected. If they are, this would indicate a problem in the main line.
  • If your plumber indicates an issue could be resulting in the main line, call Boxelder to report the issue at 970-498-0604, or after hours, call 970-567-3006. We’ll recommend action and check the main line.
  • Call your homeowners’ insurance to determine what coverage you have.

For more information on what to do if your sewer is backed up, please visit the Drain Facts website.

How can I avoid sewer back-ups? 

The best way to avoid backups is to be careful about what you flush down your toilets and drains. We recommend adhering to the Three Ps – pee, poo and toilet paper. Anything else may result in a sewer overflow in your home, or a blockage known as a ‘fatberg’ in our sewer lines. Check out Drain Facts for more information.

Who should I call in case of emergency? 

Emergency Number 970-567-3006.