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WHAT HOMEOWNERS NEED TO KNOW
How Homes are Connected to the Sewer System
How often do we think about the wastewater we generate in our homes?
Everyday, we flush the toilet, take showers or wash dishes without
thinking about where it goes next. As long as we don't experience
any clogged drains, we assume that the sewer system is working properly.
And in dry weather, for the most part, it is.
However, in Allegheny County (and many surrounding counties in
the region), wet weather—rain or snow melt—creates a host
of problems throughout the sewer system that result in raw sewage
flowing into our waterways.
A basic understanding of how your home is connected to the sewer
system will bring this underground, out-of-sight problem into clear
view.
Fresh water enters the home through a main water supply line from
the municipal water company. Inside the home, the main water supply
splits into two sets of pipes: the hot water pipes lead to the hot
water heater first and then follow a set of cold water pipes throughout
the home supplying bathroom fixtures, such as showers and sinks
as well as kitchen dishwashers and clothes washers.
Every time we turn on a faucet, wash a load of laundry or flush
the toilet, we generate wastewater, which is measured by a water
meter connected to the main water supply line. The average person
in Allegheny County uses 100 gallons per day.
As we use the water, it flows into a drain in the home and passes
through a trap, a U-shaped pipe that holds water and prevents sewer
gases from entering the home. If the trap becomes dry from non-use,
you may notice a sewer odor; pouring water into the unused drain
will refill the trap and eliminate the odor.
After passing through the trap, the wastewater continues to flow
downward through large drain pipes that eventually exit the home
underground at one location—through a pipe called a house lateral.
The house lateral runs the length of your property usually out to
the street or the rear of your property where a Y-shaped pipe (called
a wye) connects it to the public sewer system. Laterals generally
have a cleanout, an opening that allows for removing any debris
or obstructions that might block the flow of wastewater.
NEXT: Understanding the Sewer
Collection System
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