Dealing with government can be very confusing. And when it comes to our local representatives and city services, we may only sometimes understand what they are responsible for. Or we may think we know.
For instance, in the case of plumbing emergencies, who is in charge of the sewer line running to your home? Should you ask your city councilman first? Or are you in charge of managing and paying for the sewage problem on your own? These are fair questions. And sometimes the property line or city pipes may be difficult to identify.
The Oklahoma City website has a page explaining who is responsible for the cost of a sewer backup depending on the location. (https://www.okc.gov/departments/utilities/protect-your-pipes/sewer-backups#:~:text=). And the site makes it clear the state of Oklahoma will not allow the OKC to use taxpayer money to do any repairs on private property. So, if the sewage emergency is clearly on a homeowner’s property, they must hire the plumber and foot the bill. But there are a few situations where the city may be responsible to help out:
If the city has been alerted in advance that their system is at fault for the homeowner’s sewage issue and they didn’t fix the problem, they may be responsible for paying.
If sewage problems become a public health issue, the OKC staff can quickly clean up the area around the damage.
It appears that yes, there are moments when you should contact your city councilmember. Ask them or their staff to direct you to the city department where someone can help with situations like these.
Our OKC Sewer Line Repair Team can Help Clear Up Confusion
We get calls from OKC residents and property owners who might question their responsibility vs. the City of Oklahoma City We are happy to come over, do some consulting, and clear up the confusion! Because sometimes a city worker might need a little help in making some decisions about where the line begins for them and where it ends for a homeowner. If it’s the property owner, then our professional team can get started on sewer and drain line repair and replacement (https://www.benfranklinokc.com/sewer-and-drain-lines/). Common problems like sewer backups, stubborn clogs, and slow drains are easy to remedy. And we’ll do a thorough inspection making sure to clear out drains inside the home and test them too.
And on a side note; homeowners and local business owners may be concerned about harmful chemicals or additives too. they might be ready to upgrade their home sewer system to a greener type of model. The Bio Ben drain line (https://www.benfranklinokc.com/sewer-and-drain-lines/) may be the answer. Bio Ben allows naturally occurring bacteria to eat the organic waste that goes down the drain, thus helping deter clogs from fruit, vegetables, and other fibrous organic matter.
If you’re an OKC property owner unsure where your responsibility ends and where the city’s begins, just contact us. We’ll explain who’s responsible for your OKC sewer line repair problem!