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Infiltration & Inflow
Infiltration and Inflow (I/I) (PDF) is the collective name given to the unpermitted discharge that enters the Public Sanitary Sewer System such as:
- Condensate
- Groundwater
- Roof runoff
- Stormwater
- Subsurface drainage
- Surface water
Infiltration
Infiltration is groundwater that enters the sewer system through sanitary sewer defects such as:
- Cracks
- Deteriorated manholes
- Lateral defects
- Leaky connections/joints
- Root intrusion
- Other locations where groundwater can seep into the system
Inflow
Inflow is stormwater that enters the sewer system through a direct connection. Direct connections include:
- Downspouts
- Driveway drains
- Foundation drains
- Missing cleanout caps
- Missing manhole lids
- Sump pumps
- Other permitted connections
Excessive I/I entering the Public Sewer System can cause a variety of issues that impact public health and safety, customer use rates, and wastewater treatment costs.
- Increased Treatment Costs and Sewer Rates - Infiltration and Inflow result in a greatly increased sanitary sewer flow which must be treated by the County Wastewater Treatment Plants. This increased flow results in higher treatment costs, increased system maintenance, expansion of the collection and treatment system, and subsequent increases in sanitary sewer rates for users.
- Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) – Excessive I/I can overwhelm a sanitary sewer system, especially during severe weather events. This can lead to sanitary sewer overflows which can negatively impact both the environment and public health. Wastewater discharges may contain:
- Grease
- Oil
- Pathogenic microorganisms
- Pharmaceutical products
- Toxic pollutants
- Other dangerous contaminants
- Sewer Backups – I/I contributed by private properties can lead to sanitary sewer backups at private residences and cause the same health concerns as sanitary sewer overflows. Sewer backups can also lead to high costs in maintenance and cleanup for owners. Sewer backups may also be a result of sanitary sewer lateral defects that restrict the flow of wastewater such as root intrusion.
- Check Your Sewer Cleanout Cap – Missing or damaged sewer cleanout caps are one of the most common sources of private property I/I, but are luckily one of the cheapest and easiest to correct. Cleanouts sit near ground level and are generally damaged when hit by lawn mowers. Owners should replace any damaged or missing cleanout caps and may mark the location by painting the cap a bright color or placing a flag nearby.
- Investigate and Repair Laterals – Hiring a licensed plumber to investigate your sanitary sewer lateral can reveal serious issues including root intrusion and pipe collapse. These issues may lead to serious problems including sanitary sewer backups. Although repairing or replacing laterals can be expensive, the cost of a sanitary sewer backup can be even more damaging.
- Remove Direct Connections - Disconnecting unpermitted connections like sump pumps, downspouts, and foundation drains from the sanitary sewer system greatly reduces the stormwater entering the sanitary sewer system. A licensed plumber will be able to properly disconnect and redirect these connections.