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1. What should I do if the sewer backs up into my house or business?

If an overflow occurs, call our Sewer Collection Division at (301) 739-8577 extension 661 or 651 during normal business hours or (301) 790-3205 for after hours, weekends, and holidays.

When you call us first, you could save the unnecessary expense of a plumber. Discontinue inside water use. If your sewer cleanout near the street is accessible, our personnel will be able to determine if the blockage is in the customer’s line or in the city’s line. If the blockage is in the city’s line, our personnel will be able to break the blockage, ending the backup. If there is not a cleanout, or if the cleanout cannot be located, you will need to call a plumber to assist you. If you call a plumber first and the blockage is caused by the city, you will be responsible for payment to the plumber. If you do not have a cleanout, you are responsible for clearing blockages from your home to the city main in the street.

2. What is a cleanout and where is it located?

You should familiarize yourself with your cleanout location. The cleanout is a vertical pipe located near the property line that rises from your sewer line to ground level and is capped. Sometimes, the cleanout becomes buried or hidden over the years and is forgotten. In some cases, older homes may never have had a cleanout installed by the plumber.

As a property owner, you are responsible for your cleanout. If the cleanout is buried, a registered plumber should be able to locate and raise it for you. If it is hidden, you need to make it easy for our crew to access. The Water and Sewer Department Engineering Division may be able to provide a location of the cleanout according to our records by calling (301) 739-8577 ext. 651.

3. What should I do if my grinder pump has an alarm?

If there is a grinder pump failure, the tank which contains the pump will become too full. An alarm light and/or bell located in your basement, kitchen, or other area will automatically turn on. You should:

• Check the breaker in the grinder pump panel control box. If breaker is tripped – reset the breaker. If the problem persists, please contact us at (301) 739-8577 ext. 650, during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., or (301) 790-3205 any other time. Discontinue water use to prevent overflows and sewage backups into your home. Wait 15 minutes before taking further action. A high level will sometimes cause the alarm to come on. This situation is often self-correcting and the tank will automatically be pumped down. If 15 minutes have passed and the alarm light is still on or if you continue to get an alarm during the next few pump cycles please contact us.


• Never attempt to open the tank cover.


• Our technicians will repair the grinder pump or advise you if there is an electrical alarm failure, which is your responsibility to have repaired.

4. What are smoke tests?

Smoke tests are one way to specifically locate problems in a sewer system. A white vapor (smoke) is blown into the sewer main and will exit through deficiencies in the system. Such deficiencies are missing or broken clean outs, storm drains connected to sewer lines, down spouts connected, or cracks in sewer mains, etc. These problems lead to what the profession calls "i and i" (inflow and infiltration).

Inflow is were surface water enters the system (i.e., clean out or storm drain). Infiltration is where ground water enters the system either through manholes or broken pipe. Field technicians note the locations for repairs.

5. What is the purpose of smoke testing?

Smoke testing is the most efficient and economical way to identify sewer system defects.

6. Is the smoke hazardous?

The smoke is utilized throughout the United States by many private sewer consulting firms and municipal governments. Contact should be avoided but is not harmful. Minor irritation to the eyes and nose is possible but will be alleviated when exposure is ceased. A copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet is available upon request.

7. Will smoke enter my house?

Smoke will not enter your house unless you have a pipe or pluming defect. The most frequent way smoke will enter your house is through dry traps. A trap is located under most drains whether it is a sink or a floor drain. The purpose of a trap is to "trap" water and create a seal between the sink and the rest of the plumbing system to prevent odors entering your house . The city will notify you no less than 72 hours prior to conducting a test. This is to give homeowners plenty of time to make sure all traps are full of water. Running water for approximately 10 seconds or pouring a gallon of water in a drain will be enough to assure the trap is full.

8. What are methods are used to locate system defects?

Flow monitoring and close circuit television (CCTV).

9. Will anyone contact me with test results?

The City of Hagerstown Water and Sewer Department will not contact you unless there is a defect or problem found associated with your property. However we will answer questions you may have will regards to the testing.

10. What is a Cured-In-Place Pipeline Rehabilitation Project?

Selecting the link will display infromation regarding Cured-In-Place Pipeline Rehabilitation. Cured-In-Place Pipeline Rehabilitation