Oneonta Utilities: Sewer

Sewer

Wastewater created by residences, schools, churches, hospitals, businesses, and industrial establishments must ultimately be returned to receiving waters or to the land. It is treated at our wastewater treatment plant that has a treatment capacity of 2.2 million gallons per day. During fiscal year 2021, the Oneonta wastewater plant collected and treated over 366 million gallons of wastewater.

We provide sewer services for the City of Oneonta.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining sewer components located on private property, including:

•The sewer service line from the home or building to the connection with the main line

•Cleanouts located in the yard or near the home

•Grinder pumps or private lift systems (if installed)

•Any plumbing or sewer piping within the property boundary

Important Information for New Homeowners

When purchasing a home, the subdivision developer, builder, or real estate agent should provide information about the location of sewer cleanouts, shutoffs, and any private sewer equipment associated with the property.

If you are unsure where these components are located, you may wish to contact your builder, developer, plumber, or home inspector.

After-Hours Assistance

If you experience a sewer issue and are unsure whether the problem is related to the public system, you may contact our after-hours on-call service. If the issue involves the municipal system, our staff can respond accordingly.

Signs Your Sewer Problem May Be on Private Property

In many cases, sewer issues originate from the service line located on private property. Some common signs include:

•A backup occurring in only one sink, toilet, or drain in the home

•Slow draining fixtures in a specific area of the house

•Sewage backing up from a cleanout in your yard

•Gurgling sounds from drains or toilets when water is used

•Wet or soggy areas in the yard near the sewer line route

If these issues occur, it is often best to contact a licensed plumber to inspect the service line and cleanout on your property.

If multiple homes in your area are experiencing problems at the same time, it could indicate a problem with the public sewer main, and you should contact our office.

What To Do If You Experience a Sewer Backup

If you experience a sewer backup, taking the following steps can help limit damage and determine the source of the issue.

1.Stop using water immediately in the home to prevent further backup.

2.Check your sewer cleanout if one is accessible on your property.

3.Contact a licensed plumber to inspect the service line if the issue appears to be on private property.

4.If you believe the issue may involve the public sewer main, contact our office.

If the issue occurs after normal business hours, you can still call our office.

Our staff will respond if the issue involves the municipal sewer system.

To learn about our process for treating wastewater click HERE.

To see our current sewer rates and fees click HERE.

Information for customers that are on one of our "forced sewer" systems can be found HERE.

For information on how to avoid sewer clogs click HERE.

Sewer

Sewer

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