1. Where does the responsibility of the homeowner lie in regard to the sewer lateral?
The homeowner is responsible for the sewer line from the main line to the house.

2. Is it illegal to connect any downspouts, groundwater sump pumps or overflows to the sanitary sewer?
Yes! Downspouts, groundwater sump pumps and overflows should all be connected to the storm sewer because this extraneous flow overloads the treatment plant with water that does not need to be treated.

The BPU advises customers to call their private plumber to rectify their problem. No penalty will occur to any homeowner whose storm sewer is identified as draining into the sanitary sewer.

3. We have had backups at our home previously. What can we do to prevent this situation from happening again?
We recommend that the property owner install a backwater valve. This will help to prevent further backups from the main line.

4. Why is my sewer bill higher than my water bill?
It is more costly to treat contaminated water and return it to the environment to meet all of the health requirements.

Jamestown water customers are very fortunate to receive some of the finest and purest artesian well water in the country with only a minimum of added chlorine to disinfect and fluoride to prevent tooth decay. The costs to provide this water are relatively low because it does not require a great deal of treatment before its delivery to your home or business.

Wastewater, on the other hand, requires a great deal of treatment to condition it for return to its place in the hydrologic cycle. That treatment is very expensive and accounts for the higher expense to clean wastewater.

5. Will I be billed for sewer when I fill my swimming pool or can the fee be waived?
Yes, you will be billed for sewer on the water you use to fill your swimming pool.

Your sewer bill is determined by the amount of water that you run through your water meter.

The Department of Environmental Conservation law states that pool water is considered contaminated water (gray water). Pool water contains chemicals that should be emptied directly into the sanitary sewer to be treated properly and not emptied into lawns or the storm sewer.

**To see how much those charges will be, run your pool measurements through the usage calculator in the Water Division section of this web site.

6. Am I allowed to install my own sewer line?
On the homeowner's property, this is permissible, but must meet the plumbing code and be inspected. If the repair is on city property the work must be done by a licensed master plumber and a bonded contractor. It is recommended that a licensed plumber do any major repairs or installations.

7. Can I, as a homeowner, do plumbing in my own home?
Yes, provided that you are living in the home and the project should be inspected.

8. Does the BPU have records of the location of my sewer?
We do have records of sewer lateral connections in the City of Jamestown and the Village of Falconer. However, some connections were never recorded and no information is available.

9. What type of sewer lateral do I have at my home?
This information can most likely be determined by calling the Sewer Division of the Board of Public Utilities. However, some information from older homes was never recorded.