As part of ongoing efforts to maintain the City's sanitary sewer waste water collection system, the Utilities Department has implemented a three-year cleaning schedule. This will include cleaning and televising of sanitary sewer wastewater collection systems in your neighborhood.
The cleaning process causes a vacuum in the sewer. This will not affect most homes but this vacuum can pull the water out of the “P-Traps” in some homes. Should you notice a sewer smell resulting from the cleaning, simply run water down the drains. This will refill the trap and stop the sewer smell. It is also recommended that you put plastic wrap over your toilet and put the seat down; cover floor drains in the basement on the days that the cleaning is scheduled. This will minimize the possible splashing of water out of the traps and toilets in poorly vented houses.