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1. How do I report water main breaks and wastewater (sewer) back-ups?

The City of Liberty Utilities Department is responsible for operating, repairing and maintaining drinking water and wastewater infrastructure within the City limits. If there is a water main break or a wastewater back up, please contact the City of Liberty Utilities Maintenance Division at 816.439.4763. If the problem has occurred after working hours, please contact the Liberty Police Department at 816.439.4701.

2. Who do I contact to locate water or utility lines?

If you need to locate any utility lines such as water, sewer, electrical, natural gas or communication, contact Dig Rite at 1.800.344.7483.

3. What can I do to prevent sanitary sewer overflow?

Don’t contaminate the system with foreign objects and substances such as kitchen grease, automotive fluid, diapers, paper towels, feminine products, etc. These types of items regularly clog sewers in urban areas and often cause sewer back-ups not just for the offending party, but also in neighboring homes. Gutters and other storm water management systems should never be routed to a sanitary sewer. If you become aware of such a connection, immediately sever the connection and/or report the connection to the City of Liberty Utilities Maintenance Division at 816.439.4763. Install a back-flow preventer, a one-way valve device designed to prevent sanitary sewer overflows. If you have a back-flow preventer installed on your sewer line, you must be aware that it is designed to close when the sewer is flowing beyond its capacity, as can occasionally occur during a heavy rainfall. If you use your internal drains while the backflow valve is closed, you can create a flooding situation in your own home. Do not use your laundry machine, dishwasher, shower or bath; and minimize the use of sinks and toilets while valve is closed. 

4. Are there backflow prevention device requirements in the City?

Yes. All backflow devices for irrigation or domestic use, commercial and residential are required to be tested annually by June 1 each year with a DNR backflow form submitted to the City of Liberty. Failure to comply will result in disconnection of water service to protect the potable water system from cross contamination.

5. What should I do if I experience a sanitary system overflow?

Contact the City of Liberty Utilities Maintenance Division at 816.439.4763. If the problem occurs outside of normal working hours, which are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., please contact the Liberty Police Department at 816.439.4701. You can expect the maintenance crew to respond in a timely manner. Day, time and workload do affect response capability. If it is determined that there is no problem in the City sewer main, you may choose to have your lateral line checked by a plumber. The City will not choose, recommend or contact a plumber for you. You have a responsibility to mitigate your damages as soon as possible. For insurance purposes, it is advisable to document any damage and take photographs prior to beginning clean-up; but if unable, you should not wait to begin sanitizing your home. Due to the nature of a sewer system, it is not always reasonable or in the community’s best interest for the City to reimburse property owners in the event they experience damage from a sewer back-up. Every incident must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in order to determine if the City has any liability for the damage and responsibility to reimburse. Citizens are highly encouraged to maintain an insurance policy that covers instances of sanitary sewer overflow or back-up. If you do decide to request reimbursement from the City for damages incurred, contact City Hall during normal working hours at 816.439.4441, and ask for Human Resources/Loss Control. All requests for reimbursement will be filed with the City’s third-party insurance carrier. The City considers all determinations made by the insurance carrier to be final.