The City of Campbell River performs routine maintenance and testing to ensure our sewer pipes are in good condition. This includes sewer flushing, smoke testing and video monitoring.
Smoke Testing Sewer Monitoring
Sewer Flushing
Sewer flushing is how the City ensures the sewer mains are clean and flowing well. This maintenance is done year round, Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Sewer mains are the pipes that carry waste water from your home to the treatment plant. We clean the sewer mains to prevent blockages and backups. This involves removing build up like tree roots, grease, grit and sand. The work not only keeps our sewers flowing; it reduces the potential of nuisance odours and helps protect our infrastructure.
We also complete sewer main cleaning in order to complete inspection work. A clean sewer makes it easier for us to see the condition of our mains and make any necessary repairs or replacements.
No chemicals are used during sewer main cleaning. We use high pressure water to loosen debris and flush pipes. Then, a high-powered vacuum removes debris from the pipe.
What to Expect During Cleaning
You are able to use your water-based appliances during sewer cleaning. This includes your toilets and sinks. However, air pressure in the sewer may cause water to splash out through toilets and other drains. We recommend keeping toilet lids closed and sink drains plugged when not in use to avoid spills. This air pressure may also create noise in your sewer pipe.
Sewer cleaning can also create short-term nuisance odours. These odours can be cleared by:
- Opening a window for a few minutes
- Running water down sink and bathtub drains
- Flushing toilets
- Pouring water into basement floor drains
How You Can Help
You can help prevent blowbacks and odours in your home by:
- Occasionally adding water to sink and floor drains to prevent sewer gasses from entering your home
- Checking your plumbing vents each spring and fall for blockages