Slow Drains

If you notice that your sink or floor drains are draining more slowly than usual, your sewer service line may be partially blocked. Try to determine if the problem is throughout the entire house, or if it is just one fixture such as a toilet or sink.

If the drains in the entire house seem to be affected, call the City of Kearney Utilities Department and ask that the sewer maintenance crew check the City’s sewer main that receives waste water from your home before you call a plumber. The sewer maintenance crew can quickly determine if the problem you are experiencing is being caused by a problem with the City sewer main or your sewer service line.

Damage

Sewer backups can cause extensive damage in a hurry! The City sewer mains, and especially residential sewer service lines, are not designed to handle certain types of waste. Not only can items such as diapers, toys, cups, and Styrofoam cause sewer backups, they can also damage lift station pumps.

The type of debris that is being disposed usually causes sewer main blockages. In most cases, the blockages are not the fault of the sewer main. For this reason, the City has not been liable for damages caused by sewer backups. As a homeowner you may want to contact your insurance agent and ask about obtaining insurance coverage to protect you from sewer backups. The best way to prevent sewer backups is to keep foreign objects, fats, and grease out of the sewer.

Do Not Dispose of the Following in Sewer