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1. What does a sewage lift station do?

Wastewater lift stations lift sewage using pumps to an elevation and distance to where the waste returns to gravity flow.

2. What should I do if I see a red light or hear an alarm sounding at a lift station?

Each station is posted with a sign displaying an emergency phone number. When calling that number, please give the station number, your name, and a phone number where you can be reached if further information is needed. Additionally, each station the City maintains is equipped with telemetry. This allows the station to send an alarm via pager to on-call personnel.

3. What are some of the causes for failure in the sewer system?

The most common problem arises from items being put in drains that are non-biodegradable, primarily by flushing down the toilet. This includes items such as dental floss, nylon-web reinforced paper towels and non-disposable toilet products. All these items should be disposed of in the trash.

4. During the hurricanes of 2004 there was news coverage about overflowing stations. What can be done to prevent this?

The City maintains emergency generators and pumps in the case of power outages. When there is a large scale event such as a storm multiple stations could be without power. Restricting your use of water allows our crews to move generators from station to station to pump sewage, thereby, greatly reducing the chance of an overflow.

5. What should I do with the grease from cooking?

Never put grease down your drains. The grease forms on the sides of your drain pipe and can create a back-up into your home. Dispose of grease in a sealed container, then place in your trash.

6. Who do I call if I am on septic tank system and want to hook up to City sewer services?

Please call (407) 571-8342 to determine availability and fees.

7. Who do I call if I have a sewage back up?

Call your plumber first to determine the cause of the backup. If your plumber determines the backup is caused by City infrastructure, please call (407) 571-8558 to report the problem. After hours, please call (407) 571-8686.