Sanitary Sewer System

Sewage flows through underground pipes by gravity, and back-ups can occur when the flow is obstructed. There are three types of sewer back-ups: 

Private Service Line Blockage

Affects only one property, often due to tree roots or non-dissolvable items like diapers and plastic bags. Property owners are responsible for maintenance from the City sewer main to their home.

City Sewer Main Blockage

Affects multiple properties and can occur when the main pipe breaks down or gets clogged with the same items that affect private lines. City inspections help prevent these failures, but construction activities can also cause blockages.

Catastrophic Situations

Affects large numbers of properties due to extreme weather, flooding, power outages, or disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) typically assists in these cases. 

Most sewer back-ups are preventable.

If you have a sewer backup, call the Utilities Department at 763-433-9839 (7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays) or Anoka County Central Dispatch at 763-427-1212 after hours and on weekends. Even if the problem is not located on the City's sewer main, the City wants to check the sewer mains for items that may be cut loose and pushed into the City system, and possibly cause a new blockage.

Start To Clean Up

Begin cleaning up promptly. The City will report the backup to the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT), and an adjuster will contact you. For safety, consider using a commercial cleanup service. A list of firms can be found under carpet cleaners in the Yellow Pages. The City does not endorse specific companies. Please note that the City of Ramsey doesn't require, endorse, or recommend any particular firm.

Notify Insurance

Notify your own insurance company. In many cases, your homeowner's or other insurance will cover some or all of the costs and damages from a sewer backup. The LMCIT adjuster will also ask you for information on your own insurance. No-Fault Insurance: This insurance could pay for the costs incurred by a resident or property owner during clean-up and for damages caused by a sewer backup.

Make a List of Damaged Items

Make a list of the damaged or destroyed items. Include as much information as possible about each item's description, age, and value. Purchase receipts are helpful if they're available. If possible, photograph any damaged items you dispose of. Keep receipts for any clean-up or repair work you have done.

More Information

If you have questions or have not heard from the LMCIT adjuster, contact the Utilities Department at 763-433-9861.

How does the City of Ramsey inspect its sanitary sewers?

Remote-controlled video cameras televise the entire sewer system once every five years or 30,000 feet of sewer mains per year. This video inspection locates existing and potential problem areas for repair, including root cutting or root treating areas with tree root problems, joint sealing, and short lining areas to correct infiltration and broken tile.

How often are the sanitary sewers cleaned?

The entire sewer system is cleaned with a high-pressure sewer jet once every three years or 1/3 of the system annually. Pressure changes when the City cleans the sewer main may cause your toilet to flush and/or create noise.

What items should not be flushed down toilets?

Anything that will not totally dissolve and could plug the sewer mains, such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, bandages, rags, and plastic bags. Watch a video on what not to flush down your toilets.

Is Ramsey's sanitary sewer system adequate to meet future expectations?

Yes. Most of the sewer system was built in the last 15 years, and pipe sizing was determined with future development in mind.

What is Ramsey doing to eliminate any infiltration/inflow problems that may exist or develop in the sanitary sewer system?

Frequently televising the systems allows us to identify any defects in the pipe network. As mentioned, the Ramsey sewer system is relatively new.

What is a lift station?

Lift stations pump the sewer uphill from a low point, which enables the sewage to flow by gravity to the next low point and eventually into one of two Metropolitan Council Environmental Services interceptor sewers.