Homeowner FAQs

Understanding Your Sewer System

Customers need to understand the basics of the sanitary sewer system and how to keep them properly maintained and operating efficiently. If you have questions that are not covered in these Frequently Asked Questions, Glaize Creek Sewer District staff are available to help you Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. at (636) 464-3230. For emergencies after hours please call (636-947-2115) or via email rwhite.glaizecreek@aol.com.

What are Sanitary Sewer Lines?

Sanitary sewer lines are those lines that convey sanitary sewerage, usually called wastewater, from homes or businesses to the Wastewater Treatment Facility. Sanitary Sewer Lines owned by the District, sometimes referred to as trunk lines, transmission lines, main lines or other similar lines, are always eight (8) inches in diameter or larger. The Glaize Creek Sewer District maintains the eight inch or larger sewer lines.

What are Lateral Lines?

Lateral lines are those that convey sewerage/wastewater from homes or businesses to the eight inch or larger lines maintained by the District. Lateral lines are usually four to six inches in diameter but may be of a smaller size depending on when the lines were installed. Lateral lines are located on the customer’s property. The homeowner, business owner or building owner is responsible for the maintenance of the lateral sewer line from the time it leaves the home to the connection with the eight-inch sanitary sewer line.

What are Storm Sewers?

Storm sewers are those sewers that collect rainwater run-off. Storm sewers that handle stormwater run-off and yard drains are usually maintained by the entity that maintains the streets. The Glaize Creek Sewer District does not maintain storm sewer lines and is not responsible for storm water maintenance.

What is a Pressure Sewer System?

Traditional wastewater collection systems use buried pipes and structures to transport sewage from homes to treatment facilities. Systems of this nature reliably transport wastewater using gravity. Gravity systems do not require power but they do require sufficient slopes to maintain adequate gravity flows. To achieve the right amount of gravity, areas with flat or hilly terrain require deep excavations, sewage pump stations and maintenance structures (normally called manholes).

Deep excavations and other sewer structures can become quite expensive to install and maintain. This forces some communities to utilize pressure sewer systems. A pressure sewer system typically consists of narrow pipes that move the wastewater at a slight slope or simply run along the land’s surface contour. This reduces construction and excavation costs. Pressure systems are watertight to maintain the required pressure and to eliminate any infiltration into the system. Residents along a pressure sewer system use grinder pumps to send their wastewater through the system.

Pressure systems tend to have much higher operating costs than gravity systems. Traditionally all costs for operation of the pressure system are borne by the residents that use the system. The Sewer District does not normally maintain the pressure system but may in certain circumstances.

What is a Residential Grinder Pump?

A residential grinder pump is a pump that grinds solid sewage materials and pushes wastewater toward the main sewer line. Residential sewer grinder pumps move wastewater when gravity lines are not sufficient or are not able to compensate for differences in elevations. Most wastewater flows downhill from residential homes located above the main sewer line. When homes are above the main sewer line, gravity can move the wastewater from residential internal plumbing to the sewer line. However, in instances where residential homes are located below the main sewer line, the wastewater is required to move upward from the home’s internal plumbing to the main sewer line. Gravity is unable to accomplish this. A residential grinder pump grinds solid sewage materials and forces the wastewater upward to the main sewer line.

How to Residential Grinder Pumps Work?

Residential Grinder Pumps sit in tanks buried underground outside residential properties. A residential grinder pump tank collects solid sewage materials and wastewater when it flows from a home’s internal plumbing. When the tank’s wastewater level reaches the tanks capacity, the pumps float automatically activates the pump so it operates to grind the solid waste. The grinder pump then uses a pressure discharge pipe to pump the wastewater to the main sewer line.

Who owns and maintains the Grinder Pump?

Grinder pumps and the pressure system are owned by the homeowner who is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the systems. The Sewer District accepts ownership and maintenance responsibility only when the wastewater reaches the main sewer line.

Does the Sewer District specify a specific Grinder Pump?

 RED OAKS SUBDIVSION PUMP MODEL: 

• KHGS2-2401SL, 2HP HIGH HEAD GRINDER PUMP 
• KCGS-24-21S, SIMPLEX CONTROL PANEL 
• 30X72 BASIN PACKAGE 
• PACKAGE INCLUDES: RAIL SYSTEM, LIFT OUT ASSEMBLY, LIFTING CHAIN, JUNCTION BOX, CHECK VALVE, BALL VALVE AND FLOATS 

DRY FORK SUBDIVISON PUMP MODEL: 

• KG2-2401SL, 2HP GRINDER PUMP 
• KCG-16-21S, SIMPLEX CONTROL PANEL 
• 30X72 BASIN PACKAGE 
• PACKAGE INCLUDES: RAIL SYSTEM, LIFT OUT ASSEMBLY, LIFTING CHAIN, JUNCTION BOX, CHECK VALVE, BALL VALVE AND FLOATS 

Do I need permission to connect to the Glaize Creek Sewer District System?

Yes. Anyone wishing to connect to the Glaize Creek Sewer District system must have the permission of the District to do so. Individuals seeking to connect must contact the District before starting any sewer line connection. Connection agreements and connection fees for all connections are required before the start of construction. In cases involving new home construction in a subdivision however, the developer may have already obtained the permission of the District to connect individual homes to the District’s system. In every instance, homeowners are encouraged to contact the District Office to be certain that all fees have been paid to the District. The District will issue Stop Work Orders for all projects that do not follow this procedure.

Can I route the water collected from my roof into the sanitary sewer lines?

Absolutely not. Directing stormwater into the sanitary sewer lines uses valuable line space and is a primary cause for sewer backups. Homeowner stormwater collection systems, usually use black plastic pipe to collect stormwater run-off at the home’s gutters and downspouts. This water should be directed to the appropriate stormwater system. Any homeowner conveying stormwater into sanitary sewer lateral lines that connect with District lines is in violation of District ordinances and will be subject to penalties and fines as provided by the District ordinances.

The same is true for water from sump pumps. This water should not be placed into the sanitary sewer systems. Again, homeowners that convey this water into the sanitary sewer system are in violation of District ordinances and are subject to civil action.

Are inspections required?

Yes. The Glaize Creek Sewer District must inspect all sanitary sewer construction, repairs to the sewer mains and all lateral connections made to the sanitary sewer system. All inspections require a 24-hour advance notice from the District. Lines installed and connections made without inspection will result in the work being “dug up” so that the inspections can be made as required.

Why is my bill so high?

You may have a leak. If you can hear water running, the chances are fairly good that that is your problem. According to the EPA, the average family can waste 180 gallons of water per week, or 9,400 gallons of water annually from household leaks.

Make sure all your toilets have a good functioning flapper seal and a working shut-off float. If you have a water softener system check for any wet spots. Sewer Bills are based upon the amount of water that a customer adds to the wastewater system of the District. If you are on public water, check with the water district to see if they have a record of a water leak on your property.

Can I request the Sewer District to mark the underground utilities before my home improvement project?

Contact the Missouri One Call System to request utility locations. Call 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE to request a locate for your underground utilities.

Please be aware of the locations of public utilities on your property. Use this information first to plan your project and situate it on your property. If a property owner constructs a permanent structure or improvement of any kind over a public utility that prohibits regular operations, maintenance and/or repairs of the utility, the District has the right to direct the modification or removal of the improvement at the owners expense.

Still have questions?

Glaize Creek Sewer District staff are available to help you Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. at 636-464-3230. For emergencies after hours please call 636-947-2115.