Sanitary Sewer Responsibility

The following general policies should aid in the understanding of the division of responsibility, should problems occur in any sanitary sewer line in Bloomingdale. The Director of Village Services (630-893-7000) should be consulted on matters not covered under the below general policies.

Related Documents

  1. Exhibit A (PDF)
  2. Exhibit B (PDF)

Definitions

For purpose of definition, responsibility in this policy means repair and/or replacement, cleaning (emergency and routine) of the sanitary sewer lines further detailed below.

Sanitary Sewer Main Definition

A sanitary sewer main is an underground pipe owned and maintained by the village which transports from more than 1 residence, parcel or property to eventually be treated at the village of Bloomingdale Water Reclamation Facility.

Sanitary Sewer Building Service Lateral Definition


Sanitary sewer building service lateral is an underground pipe owned by a private entity which transports from one residence, parcel or property to the sanitary sewer main. Laterals can also be distinguished as the underground pipe that delivers sewerage to the village sanitary sewer system for which a resident, property, or parcel owner pays a tap-on fee and a monthly or bimonthly service fee based on the village water and sewer rates established by ordinance.

Responsibility of Service

  • Sanitary sewer mains in any right-of-way or easement are the responsibility of the village.
  • Sanitary sewer building service laterals (or building service) in any right-of-way are the responsibility of the village with regards to repair or replacement only.
  • A single family homeowner is responsible for the sanitary sewer lateral (or building service) on his property from his house up to the right-of-way line or easement on his own side of the street or property; responsibilities are further described in items 8-12. Exhibit "A" (PDF) shows typical residential layout for illustrative purposes.
  • Sanitary sewer main lines located in easements are generally the responsibility of the village, when serving other properties upstream.
  • Sanitary sewers located in easements serving only 1 development of a multi-family (apartment) are the responsibility of the development; from the building to the point of connection to the village sewer main.
  • Sanitary sewer mains located in easements in town home areas are the responsibility of the village, including the point of connection with the service lateral. The service lateral located outside the easement is the responsibility of the owner or town home association per appropriate covenants. Attached is a sketch of typical town home rear yard sanitary main and service laterals (Exhibit "B" (PDF)).

Town Homes

The town homes' services would be treated in the same respect as a single family service. The resident is responsible for routine cleaning and maintenance of the 6 inch service to the sanitary main line. When a resident clearly demonstrates that maintenance measures have been performed and a structural problem exists in the service line within the village easement, the village will make the necessary repairs to the service line. This would put the village responsibility within the same constraints as the water distribution definition or responsibilities, which is up to the B-boxes. The portion of the service line between the house and the B-box is the homeowner's responsibility in regards to any necessary structural repairs.

Shopping Centers

Sanitary sewers serving shopping centers and the like, when serving only a building or buildings on that parcel, are the responsibility of that shopping center or building owner; from the building to the point of connection to the village sanitary sewer main.

Specific Issues for Single Family Residential

  • The property owner is responsible for routine cleaning of sanitary sewer building service lateral from the house, or structure to the connection at the main line. This applies regardless of which side of the street the sanitary sewer main is on.
  • Some homes have clean outs that are smaller in diameter than their service line, which results in less-than-adequate sewer rodding or cleaning. The homeowner is encouraged to install a new or larger outside clean out, when necessary for ease of maintenance.
  • If repairs are needed to the service line in the right-of-way (or easement) the village will contract for the repair only after we have 1st hand evidence that the problem has been located within said right-of-way (or easement) as further defined in items 11 and 12 below.
  • If there is no determination made as to the accurate location of the problem after the homeowner performs his responsibilities, the village may share in the cost of a clean out on a 50/50 basis (up to $500) so as to be able to verify before expending larger sums of village money for repairs.
  • After an outside cleanout installation, the homeowner is responsible for having the service line cleaned in the presence of village staff. This will enable the village to verify the effectiveness of the cleaning, and the location of the blockage.