| Q. |
What
is a collection system? |
| A. |
A collection system is
a network of sewer lines, manholes, pumping stations and other structures
used to collect wastewater and transport it to a treatment plant.
The Midway City Sanitary District system is a collection system only;
treatment and disposal takes place at the Orange County Sanitation
District plants in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.
|
| Q |
What is a Sewer
Service Charge? |
| A, |
The purpose of the sewer
service charge is to raise revenue for the cost of maintenance, operation,
repair, and rehabilitation of the existing sewer system.
|
| Q |
How do I pay
my Sewer Service Charge? |
| A, |
The District’s sewer
service charges are a separate line item on the Orange County Assessor’s
property tax statement sent to each property owner.
|
| Q. |
How does my rate
compare to other sewer service rates in the area? |
| A, |
The District historically
has one of the lowest rates in Orange County.
|
| Q. |
When there's
a sewer backup what should I do? |
| A, |
When a backup occurs,
contact the Midway City Sanitary District at (714) 893-3553 during
regular business hours and after hours at (714) 310-9004.
|
| Q. |
What will the
District do when a backup occurs? |
| A, |
The District will assess
the backup to determine if the blockage is in the public sewer line
or the property owner’s private sewer lateral. The District will
clear blockages that occur in the public sewer line and will stay
on-site until the private property owner clears the private sewer
backup and cleans up the spill.
|
| Q. |
What is the purpose
of manhole covers? |
| A. |
The manholes circular
metal lid usually located in the middle (sometimes to the side) of
the street are for access to the sanitary sewer main. Only authorized
District personnel can remove the manhole cover and enter the manhole.
|
| Q. |
If I notice missing,
damaged or noisy manhole covers (loose fitting) what do I do? |
| A. |
Please report the occurrence
to the District immediately at (714) 893-3553.
|
| Q. |
What do you mean
by sanitary sewer system? |
| A. |
Sanitary sewer systems
are the sewer mains, manholes, and pumping stations that collect
and transport wastewater.
|
| Q. |
What causes a
sanitary sewer to backup? |
| A. |
Most sewer backups occur
because the line is plugged with grease or roots or a combination
of grease and roots. Backups are also caused by a sag (or belly)
in the line or a sewer lateral that has collapsed. Never place
anything in the system other than bathroom tissue. Products
like baby wipes and rags and other products labeled “flushable” frequently
cause backups because they do not disperse like bathroom tissue.
|
| Q. |
What kinds of
problems do fats, oils and grease (FOG) cause? |
| A. |
When fats, oils, and
grease are introduced into the sewer, they are usually warm and free
flowing. However, shortly thereafter, they cool and harden
and adhere to the pipe wall. A FOG buildup will eventually
cause a backup.
|
| Q. |
How large is
the FOG problem? |
| A. |
FOG is the number one
cause of sewer line problems and the State Water Resources Control
Board has mandated through an Order that all sewer agencies in the
State of California have a comprehensive FOG reduction and management
program.
|
| Q. |
Where does the
FOG come from? |
| A. |
FOG is a by-product of
the cooking process and may be discharged into the system by restaurants,
institutional kitchens, and residences.
|
| Q. |
What is an Easement? |
| A. |
When a public sewer line
crosses private property, the property owner grants the Midway City
Sanitary District a right to operate and maintain the sewer line,
and this right to use the private property is termed an “easement.” The
District is usually granted a 10-foot wide strip of land over the
length of the sewer. Easement documents are recorded at the
Orange County Recorder’s office.
|
| Q. |
Who owns and
maintains the Easement? |
| A. |
The property owner continues
to own the land and has only given up defined rights on the portion
of land used for the easement. Maintenance of the property within
the easement is the responsibility of the property owner. The
property owner continues to use the surface of the land but may not
erect a structure in the easement.
|
| Q. |
Who can enter
my property? |
| A. |
The District may access
its easements at any time. The District may, on occasion, have a
Contractor perform specific tasks on the sewer inside an easement.
|
| Q. |
Can I make improvements
within the Easement? |
| A. |
Easements are typically
granted to the District with the understanding that the property
owner may make improvements to the surface such as fences, asphalt
paving, irrigation and lighting systems or similar improvements.
However, structures are never allowed inside an easement.
|
| Q. |
What is an encroachment
in an easement? |
| A. |
An encroachment is a
physical intrusion into the limits of the easement. The District
may require that any unauthorized encroachments be removed at the
property owner's expense.
|
| Q. |
Are there penalties
for locating structures or improvements on an easement? |
| A. |
The property owner may
be faced with the costs of removal and any associated damages resulting
from unauthorized structures or improvements on land subject to an
easement.
|
