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Sewer

Approximately 120 miles of sewer mains are maintained by the city.  As well as 10 lift stations and the 27-inch force main, which runs 11 miles from Lift Station A, located at 105th Avenue and Irma Drive, to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Water to Wastewater and Back
Water used for whatever purpose, laundry, bathing, or flushing is called wastewater.  Depending on where you live in Northglenn, your wastewater can travel up to 11 miles, flowing through a series of pipes and lift stations before entering the force main, ultimately reach the Wastewater Treatment Plant.   Upon arrival, wastewater is treated before being discharged into Big Dry Creek or Bull Canal for agricultural irrigation. Our city’s water starts in the mountains, is treated and made ready for your use, then treated again before returning to the earth, a long journey.


Sewer Backup
Experiencing a sewer backup,  call 303.451.1289 or report it online.  The city will check the main sewer line running through the street in front of your house to make sure it's flowing freely.  The sewer pipe from your house to where it taps into the main line is called a "service lateral."  Maintenance and repair of your service lateral is the responsibility of the homeowner.

The most common reasons for sewer backups  include, kitchen grease,  tree roots,  separation at a pipe joint, a lodged foreign object or a collapsed pipe due to age and corrosion.  Water draining slowly may be the first clue that a problem is developing.  Preventive maintenance in the form of routine roto-rooting is the best line of defense against more serious problems.

Sewer Main Break
Call 303.451.1289 for immediate assistance in reporting a possible sewer main break.  Your help in notifying the city will ensure a prompt response before further damage can occur.  Breaks may occur unexpectedly before repairs or replacements are scheduled due to the city's aging infrastructure.  These incidents are treated as a very high priority and repairs are made as quickly as possible.

Sewer Televising
Experiencing problems with slow drains or sewer backups?  You may consider hiring a plumber to send a camera into your sewer service line to determine exactly where the problem is and what might be causing it.  The homeowner is responsible for their service lateral line, running from your home to its tap into the city's main line.  

Sewer Flushing

Sewer mains are routinely flushed at least once every three years.  Some lines are prone to more problems than others and are flushed more frequently – some as often as every three months.  Using a high pressure water jet, the city will remove sediment, grease and other debris lodged in pipes which may obstruct the wastewater flow, causing a backup into your home.

Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG)
Over time, improper disposable of cooking grease causes big problems for your sanitary sewer system.  Pour grease, oil and fats into a container, let it solidify and throw it away.  Don’t pour it down the drain!  Grease may be liquid when dumped into the sink, but it will harden and cling to the walls of your pipes eventually clogging your sewer system resulting in  very expensive repairs.

Don't Flush Trouble
Your toilet is NOT a trash can.  Labels on products may claim they are "flushable" but disposable wipes and other products can clog sewer lines. 

It's a Toilet, Not a Trash Can. 
Don't Flush:
Disinfecting Wipes
Baby Wipes
Mop Refills
Towelettes
Paper Towels
Q-Tips
Dental Floss
Sanitary Products
Prophylactics
Medical Syringes


Sewer Odor Frequently Asked Questions

Contact

General Sewer Questions
303.280.7803

Water and Sewer
Emergency 24-Hour Hotline

303.451.1289