Home sales will trigger sewer inspections

A new city policy aims to keep fresh water out of sanitary sewer lines and untreated sewage out of groundwater.

Earlier this month Tacoma City Council passed an ordinance implementing a private property inflow and infiltration program. Inflow refers to water getting into the sanitary sewers from improper connections, such as from roof drains and driveway drains. Infiltration means groundwater getting into sewers through cracks. About 70 percent of this comes from connections on private property.

After the law takes effect next July 1, inspections of side sewers will be required at the time of sale or transfer of title on property, as well as for issuance of building permits for substantial renovations.

There are several exemptions, including properties that have been issued a certificate of inspection within the past five years, transfer of title from one co-owner to another, between family members and between spouses going through a divorce.

When fully implemented, the annual cost of the program is estimated at between $3 million and $4 million.

There are 700 miles of private side sewers in Tacoma. City crews know some lines are defective through the use of smoke testing. Groundwater in the sanitary system can contribute to overflows, especially during heavy rain

Inspections will be done by plumbing or sanitation sewer contractors licensed by the state. The cost to homeowners would be between $300 and $500.

Alicia Lawver from the city’s Community Relations office said outreach will be done to get the word out about the new law. Mortgage brokers and real estate agents will be contacted. “They are the ones who will be educating their clients,” she said. “We want them to be informed about what is going on.”

Information on the new law will be inserted in utility bills and included in the spring issue of the EnviroTalk newsletter, which is mailed to all households in the city.

Solving the inflow and infiltration problem will ultimately reduce flow to the treatment plant. “It is much cheaper to do this than build another treatment plant,” Lawver commented.

A committee of stakeholders formed in July 2007 to evaluate the problem, and recommend solutions. It included sewer contractors, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department and Master Builders Association of Pierce County. They studied what cities around the nation have done to see what has worked elsewhere. “They wanted to make sure this was realistic,” Lawver said.

Homeowners who need assistance with needed repairs can apply for the city’s low-interest Sewer Conservation Loan Program. A good credit history is required for this. In addition, those who meet federal low-income guidelines can apply for the Major Home Repair Program. This is a 20-year, zero-interest, deferred payment program. The city is paid back when the house is sold or ownership transfers.

Geoff Smyth from Environmental Services said the group studied the county’s regulations for septic systems. “We took the good things that program has and crafted it to fit our community,” he remarked.

Getting clean water out of the sewer system frees up capacity the city can sell, Smyth noted. “Capacity at the wastewater treatment plant is key to the long-term economic vitality of our city.”

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