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Utilities - Wastewater Department
Water/Sewer Billing Office, 333 W.
Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640 Phone: 989-837-3341
Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2125 Austin St., Midland, MI 48642 Phone: 989-837-3500
Email: kbabinsk@midland-mi.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Sewer Backups / Problems
RV and Septic Waste Disposal
Other
Answers
My sewer is backed
up. Can someone from the City of Midland Wastewater Department come and fix it?
If your sewer is backing up into your
home and you don't know if the problem stems from the system in your home or the
City's sanitary sewer system, we recommend that you call the
Wastewater Treatment Plant at 989-837-3500 and report the problem immediately. The Wastewater Treatment
Plant is staffed 24 hours a day, and staff typically can respond within 45
minutes.
When responding to a call, City staff will inspect the City sewer in your area and determine if we
can help with the problem. If we can't help, we recommend that you look for
an established sewer cleaner or plumber, either of which can generally be found in the
phone book.
For more information on sewer backups, click on the Sewer Backup Issues link
at right.
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Is the
City of Midland responsible for sewer repairs from my house or building?
No. The homeowner
is responsible for any sewer problems in the sanitary sewer system from inside
the home to the point at which the sewer pipe joins the City's portion of the system, which is
typically found in the street in front of a home or building or in the outlawn area.
The City is responsible for the collection system that
runs throughout the city. The City's portion of the
collection system is comprised of pipes that are called "mains". These mains
can be up to 48 inches in diameter. In contrast, some home or
building pipes (also called laterals) are either 4 or 6 inches in diameter.
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Can you recommend a sewer cleaner
or plumber to help me?
City staff cannot recommend private
companies to perform services for residents. However, when you are searching for a quality company,
it is recommended that you consider asking the following questions:
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What is the cost to perform a given
service?
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What is the company's guarantee for their
work?
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How long does the guarantee last?
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What causes my sewer to backup?
Blockages can occur for numerous
reasons. Some of the most common causes are tree roots, grease and
toys or objects inserted by children who may use drains to dispose of pencils, Barbie dolls,
etc.
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How can I prevent and/or
solve sewer backup problems?
Grease and items not intended for sewer
disposal should not be put down the drain. If such items go down the drain,
contact a sewer cleaner or plumber to remove them.
Tree roots, a common cause of sewer
problems, will grow deeper and farther into the ground to find a water and
nutrient source. Sewer pipes installed prior to the 1980s were typical of
the clay pipe style, which can allow roots to access and disrupt the wastewater
flow in your sewer. A root cutter can be utilized to correct this problem.
Once again, we recommend contracting with a sewer cleaner or plumber to
correct this problem, as most homeowners will generally not be familiar with
or have the equipment needed to perform the work. For the do-it-yourselfer who would prefer
trying to correct the problem on his/her own, this type of equipment may be rented
from a local vendor.
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For what other types of situations would I contact the City of Midland
Wastewater Treatment Plant?
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Sewage backup in home
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Sewer odor in basement
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Odor in the air
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Flusher truck working in area
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Interested in touring the Wastewater Treatment Plant
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Street flooding with rainwater
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Does the City have a recreational vehicle (RV) waste disposal site?
An RV waste
disposal site is located at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2125 Austin St. Any
Midland city resident may bring their RV to the plant to dispose of waste from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and on the weekends and during holidays from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. This service is free to Midland city residents.
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Is domestic septage from licensed commercial
haulers accepted at the plant?
Yes, the Midland Wastewater Treatment Plant is a receiving facility for
domestic sewage from licensed haulers.
Click here to learn more about this service.
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Can I pay my water/sewer bill over the Internet?
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