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1. What is the Private Service Lateral Program (PSLP)?

The Private Service Lateral Program (PSLP) / Service Lateral Program (SLP) is a three step approach to inspect, test, and repair defective and substandard sewer service lines from homes to the street. The WWTA’s sewage system is comprised of two parts; the public portion maintained by the WWTA, and the private portion historically maintained by the property owner. Generally speaking, for every mile of public sewer line, there is an equal corresponding mile of private sewer lateral lines. The “private” sewer lateral lines are owned by the home or business owner. Private owners are responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing their own lateral, and most do not even know they have a problem and may not know until the sewage backs up into their home or business. Private Service Lateral Program page.

2. What is the purpose of the PSLP?

Hamilton County WWTA received an Order from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to correct bypass issues on Signal Mountain. Until the problems are adequately addressed, with the exception of those who had agreements in place prior to the moratorium, the WWTA will not be allowed to connect new customers to the Signal Mountain collection system. TDEC also required the WWTA to develop a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to establish a Maintenance, Operation, and Management (MOM) program for the entire collection system. Please call 423-209-7842 for more information.

3. What is the cost of the program?

In accordance with the approved WWTA procedures and regulations, beginning May 1, 2009, the WWTA implemented an $8 fee for the Private Service Lateral Program as part of the requirements set forth by TDEC.

The first two goals of the program will include inspection and testing of the property's sewer lateral. The estimated cost for this was $250 - $300 per lateral. The third goal of the program is to make repairs. Repairs were estimated to cost between $3,000 and $5,000 per lateral. The WWTA Board voted unanimously to implement the $8 per month service fee for the next 20 years to finance the program. Please call 423-209-7842 for more information.

4. Who will make the repairs to the lateral lines?

The WWTA will be responsible for the inspection and making the required installations and repairs provided that an approved WWTA Contractor is being used. The property owner may choose to select a contractor/plumbing company that is not a part of the WWTA’s approved Contractors and pay the cost for the inspection and the required installations and repairs. Find a Qualified Plumber.

5. Will the WWTA enter my property without my knowledge to conduct testing?

The WWTA wants to work with homeowners' and will seek homeowner’s permission before doing work on private property.
- A portion of the service lateral will be located on private property. An Easement Document will be sent to all property owners requesting the signatures of all parties. The Easement Document must be notarized, and the WWTA office has Notaries on staff.
- By signing the Easement the WWTA will be authorized to have accessibility to the property in order to install the required clean-outs, inspect and evaluate the service lateral, and perform any necessary rehabilitation to or replacement of the service lateral.
- The Easement Document does not give the WWTA or the WWTA’s Contractor authorization to enter the residence or business without additional permission granted by tenant or owner.
- By signing the Easement Document the property owner is not surrendering ownership of real estate. The WWTA will own the service lateral pipe to address issues related to I&I. Issues that are not related to I&I remain the responsibility of the property owner. Consent and Agreement Form (PDF).

6. What should I do if I have a backup before a Plumber or Evaluation Contractor contacts me?

Only plumbers qualified by the WWTA will be allowed to make repairs in the PSLP.Contacting a plumber that is not pre-qualified with WWTA could result in the homeowner being responsible for the cost of the repairs. You should contact one of these plumbers

7. What is a sewer lateral?

A sewer lateral is a pipe, normally four or six inches in diameter for residential and commercial buildings, that runs underground from the foundation of a home or business and connects to the public sewer main. It is the sewer lateral that carries the sewage away from a home or building and deposits it into the larger public sewer main.

8. What is a cleanout?

A cleanout is an elevated pipe connection that allows access to the sewer lateral. These are usually above ground and covered with a circular cap. These connections give plumbers and contractors access to the sewer lateral to unclog and televise the sewer lateral. Sewer cleanouts are generally located 5 feet from the structure and at the property line near the right-of-way or mainline sewer easement to provide several access points.

9. What is the condition of my sewer lateral?

Most service laterals are not one continuous pipe and may be installed with a variety of pipe materials and methods. Over time, these pipes and their connections deteriorate allowing groundwater and roots to enter the sewer system. These defects are usually not obvious as the pipes are rarely visible from the ground and most go unnoticed by most property owners until a full blockage is experienced.

The true condition of the service lateral can only be determined by an internal closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection of the pipe where the defects can be seen. Older and more established parts of our community tend to have more problems with sewer laterals as these areas were constructed with older pipe materials and standards that do not meet the ones in place today. Modern pipe materials construction practices have improved over the years, however newer laterals can still break, shift, collapse or become inundated with roots and allows I&I into the sanitary sewer system and exfiltration into the environment.

10. What is I&I?

Inflow and infiltration (I&I) is a term that refers to extraneous and nonwastewater flow that enters into the service lateral and sewer main. “Infiltration” is groundwater or rainwater that enters the sanitary sewer from a localized defect such as a broken pipe or unsealed connection. “Inflow” is water from storm water sources such as roof drains, sump pumps, or other devices that have been tied into the sanitary sewer system

11. Does the Private Service Lateral Program (PSLP) / Service Lateral Program (SLP) apply to all WWTA sewers customers?

Only those customers that are served by the gravity portion of the WWTA’s sewer collection system will fall under the PSLP / SLP. The program is designed to systematically evaluate the laterals of each municipal area served by the WWTA and the unincorporated Hamilton County area.

12. How does the WWTA fix a defective sewer lateral?

The WWTA will fix your lateral in 4 phases:
- Phase 1: The plumber assigned to work on your property will check for, and install if necessary, the cleanout closest to your home or building.
- Phase 2: From this cleanout, the Evaluation Contractor will video and test your service lateral.
- Phase 3: Based on the video and testing results, the WWTA will assign work to the plumber that checked the cleanout in Phase 1.
- Phase 4: The Evaluation Contractor will return to your property to test the work performed by the plumber. Note: All repairs to and / or replacements of service laterals will be performed under the direction of a Licensed Master Plumber that has passed a qualification process required by the WWTA. In addition, the plumber will guarantee his/her work for 5 years.

13. Is the WWTA alone in facing this issue?

No, many utilities and municipally owned sewer systems are facing similar challenges to address the order from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in accordance to the Clean Water Act to eliminate as many inflow and infiltration and exfiltration sources as possible.