Sewer Line Safety

In rare cases, our gas pipeline may cross through a sewer pipe. This is known as a cross bore. If a plumber unknowingly strikes a gas line while cutting through a sewer blockage, natural gas could enter the sewer system. We want to prevent this from happening.

Why can utility lines cross through sewer lines? When a new utility line (gas, electric, telephone, or cable) needs to be installed in an urban area, it’s very common for utility providers to dig horizontally underground (called directional boring). Since this installation method does not involve digging a trench, it avoids damage to sidewalks, patios, landscaping, and existing utility lines.

Is it dangerous to clean out sewers? Cleaning out sewers can be potentially hazardous when sewer laterals are cleaned using mechanical purging equipment (rooter). This equipment has the ability to damage buried utilities. Collapsed sewer walls can also cause the rooter equipment to be misdirected outside of the sewer, bringing the equipment dangerously close to other buried utilities.