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Side Sewers and You

From Seattle Utilities: Good info for Homeowners

Homeowners and building owners are responsible for maintaining and repairing this section of pipe that carries wastewater from your home or building’s plumbing system to the public sewer main (usually located under the street). As the property owner, you are responsible for replacing any sidewalks and roadway removed during the repair, potentially costing thousands of dollars. Maintenance is important. The primary problem associated with side sewers is sewer backups into homes or businesses. Some causes and solutions include:

• Tree root penetrating pipes, especially older ones made of clay. Rooter services
can unclog a side sewer.
• Fats, oils and grease improperly disposed of down drains also cause blockages.
Instead, they should be properly disposed of in a sealed container in your trash.

When there is a problem it is best to call a private company first, such as a rooter service or plumber, because the problem is likely in your private side sewer line and critical time may be wasted contacting the city. However, if sewage is coming into your home when you are not using water, you should call for a Seattle Public Utilities’ maintenance crew immediately at (206) 386-1800.

You can also learn more by visiting www.seattle.gov/util/sidesewer. Some Seattle residents may qualify for a low-interest loan from the Seattle Office of Housing’s HomeWise program to help fix their side sewer problem. For information about program guidelines or to request an application, email homewise@seattle.gov or call
(206) 684-0244.

Residents may qualify for a low-interest loan from the Seattle Office of Housing’s HomeWise program to help fix their side sewer problem. For information about program guidelines or to request an application, email (206) 684-0244.

Tags: household, maintenance, side sewers

Go Green — It’s Easy to Do

Go Green

Here are some things you can do in your home….

Replace regular inefficient light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s).  A CFL is 70-75% more efficient and although they cost a little more up front, you save on your electric bill over time and these bulbs last 8-10 years!  If every family replaced one bulb with a CFL, it would be like reducing carbon emissions from 800,000 cars.  Have a light bulb moment and change one light bulb.

We each use 2,200 paper napkins a year on average, which translates to a little over six napkins a day. If we all gave up one napkin a day and substituted it with a cloth napkin, we could save a billion pounds of paper waste from going into landfills each year.

When you buy one liter of water at the store, you’re actually buying about six liters of water.  When manufacturers make plastic bottles, it take five liters of water to cool the plastic.  Some plastics can make your water taste like plastic and leach harmful chemicals into your body.  If your water tastes like plastic, you are ingesting plastic. An alternative idea is to purchase a water filter and a reusable aluminum or plastic bottle.  Look on the bottom of the plastic bottle for  a small triangle with a number in the middle. If you see a number 2, 4 or 5, the bottle is safe.

The average American can use up to 24 gallons of water per shower.  Put a timer in your shower and try to keep it to 5 minutes.

Clean the lint trap in your dryer after every use.  This can reduce the energy use by up to 30% per load.

To cut down on the amount of dishwasher water usage, choose a different colored cup for each family member to use throughout the day.

Even after turning off a computer or television, power can continue to flow at up to 40% of the power used when the screen is on. Using a power strip stops the energy from being wasted and provides surge protection.

Use environmentally safe cleaning products that are dye and perfume free, nontoxic, biodegradable, naturally derived and not tested on animals.  Seventh Generation, Shaklee, Method Home and Mrs. Meyers are a few that are recommended.

Avoid using plastic Ziplock® bags for storage.   Plastic bags can sit in a landfill for over 40 years.  Better alternatives are re-usable glass containers with plastic or glass lids.

Bring your lunch to work in reusable plastic or glass containers instead of plastic wrap, plastic bags or aluminum foil.

Content provided by First American Title Insurance Company

Tags: Green building, household, tips