• Number of service connections (residential and commercial): 22,800
• Daily average in gallons: 8,000,000
• Maximum daily pump station capacity in gallons: 15,600,000
• Peak use times: Peak usage of the sewer lines occurs early in the morning as residents get ready for work and again in the evening when residents get home from work.

The city’s Wastewater Collection Division routinely maintains the sanitary sewer main pipelines to keep them flowing freely. Our top maintenance issues are blockages from grease and large debris (rocks, cans, etc.) that enter our pipeline system. Our crews inspect and clean the sanitary sewer mains on a regular basis.

Here’s how you can keep your home's sewer system and the city's sewer system trouble-free.

Please Do

• Call 916-461-6177 or email us if you have questions about your sewer line.
• Report any sewer problems, odors, or overflows.
• Recycle motor oil, paint, and other toxic materials at the city's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, or use the Curbside Oil Recycling program.
  • More information about Hazardous Waste
• Locate your building's outside cleanout and backflow prevention device. A cleanout is most often a four-inch, green circular lid, and a backflow is a 6-inch, green circular lid located next to the cleanout.
• Deposit all cooking grease, eggshells, and coffee grounds in the trash.
• Use only a licensed contractor or plumber to make repairs.

Please Do Not

• Flush baby wipes or diapers.
• Put cooking grease, eggshells, or coffee grounds down drains or in the garbage disposal.
• Pour chemicals, cleaners, motor oil or solvent down the sewer. The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility takes these items.
• Plant trees directly over a sewer line. Root growth in sewer lines causes problems. One easy way to tell where a sewer line runs through your yard is to line up the city cleanout at the sidewalk to the cleanout just beside their home. You can also call us for assistance.
• Dig without calling Underground Service Alert (1-800-642-2444).
• Use an unlicensed or unknown contractor to make repairs. Check them out!
• Proceed with an expensive sewer line repair without getting a second opinion.