4 Clean and Dirty Things to Know About Sewer Cleaning

Have you ever wondered what goes on down under? Beneath the surface, in the sewer? The drains and sewers that help us keep our sewage and waste problems under control are a miracle of engineering.

But how are they maintained and cleaned? It’s a fascinating process that involves all kinds of technological feats.

If you are intrigued to know how it all works then prepare to do a deep dive into sewer cleaning.

1. Snake Those Drains

One of the most common ways to clean drains is the drain snake technique. This is where a long twisting pipe known as a snake is inserted into the drain. It will slither and snake its way along the drain until the problem becomes apparent.

When the snake reaches the problem point a special tool known as the auger that sits at the end of the snake will be used to clear the blockage and ensure that sewage waste can drain once again.

2. Getting Into a Routine

Routine inspection is one of the most important parts of sewer cleaning. You need to ensure that your drains and sewers are checked and cleaned regularly. This doesn’t have to involve a deep clean every time.

But it is important to get a clear picture of the system every few weeks and months to make sure everything is ok.

How you go about maintaining drains and sewers depends on the country and the state. In many ways, every sewer and drain is different and requires different techniques.

To find out what you need to do to clean the sewer near you then you need to ring up your local state or county department and enquire. Some states do use vactor trucks to which keep your community healthy.

You never if you are interested in how sewers work then your local state or county community office might let you hitch a ride with the local cleaning team to see the great work that they do.

3. Sewer Cleaning Safety

There are some precautions and safety factors that go into doing a deep clean of a clogged sewer line.

The first thing that is important to note is that machines are always better than people. Sending personal down into the sewers should always be the last result. There are a host of issues that could go wrong.

Firstly the workers cleaning the sewers could be exposed to methane gas levels which are dangerous. It also doesn’t matter how thick the suits are there is going to be a stench when sewer line cleaning that can be overwhelming.

There is always the chance, even when wearing a suit, that workers might be exposed to dangerous bacteria or other hazards. What people flush down the toilet and throw into drains can be unpredictable. One example of a hazard they could come across diry and infected needles from drug users.

Machines Not People

Instead, a machine can clean away the dirt and grime without exposing people to what lurks beneath. The sewage is contained in the truck until it can be safely disposed of.

When the sewage is finally dumped the truck driver can stand far away so that they don’t become infected by anything. The dumping and collecting procedure can be controlled from a remote control so the driver isn’t even in the truck when the process takes place, making it safe and secure.

High power jets can also scrub the walls, preventing the need for them to be scrubbed by hand.

4. Getting Out The Big Guns: Capacity

So what can the average big sewer truck carry in terms of the dirt and grime it can collect from the scene of the crime?

The answer usually depends on the machine. Technology is improving all of the time. Soon Elon Musk might be building your next sewer.

Of course, there are exceptions and there are no doubt bigger trucks for bigger sewage systems. But on average a sewer truck can take between 5-15 cubic yards of material from a sewer or drain.

Not even the bus-sized fatberg recovered from London sewers is a match for some of the machines available today.

Once the tank is full the sewer truck can head to the nearest treatment plant and dump the waste. There is usually a treatment plant nearby and the process doesn’t take long at all.

Treatment plants are the lifeblood of the sewer industry. Quick, efficient and safe processing of waste enables the trucks to continue clearing waste with no issues and at speed.

Sewer Cleaning is Safe And Efficient

If you are wondering how sewer cleaning works then the answer is it depends on the drain or sewer and the equipment used which varies from state to state and county to county.

When you start to learn about sewage equipment and infrastructure that surrounds it you realize what an achievement the sewage system is for keeping us all sanitized and healthy.

Machines mean that sewage workers don’t have to enter the sewers themselves and expose themselves to toxic fumes and bacteria that could scar them for life. Instead, they can operate the sewage trucks from the side of the road for maximum safety.

Using techniques like the snake technique, sewer trucks can burrow into the tiniest and trickiest locations to locate the problem of waste before eliminating it with specific tools attached to the end of the pipe.

A regular routine is also important. Ensuring sewers are cleaned and inspected regularly can prevent massive builds ups of dirt and grime that can have a knock-on effect.

If you are interested in reading more about how sewer cleaning works or main sewer line cleaning then be sure to check out the rest of our site.

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