Sanitary Sewer

System Description

The City of Little Canada has over 36 miles of sanitary sewer main comprised of vitrified clay pipe, ductile iron pipe, cement pipe, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe.  Most of the pipe is eight inches in diameter but there is also ten, twelve, fifteen, and larger diameter pipe in the system.  There are nearly 800 manholes in the system and eight lift stations.  All of the City's sewer flows flow into large Metropolitan Council interceptor lines that convey the sewage to the Pig's Eye Treatment Plant in St. Paul.

Maintenance

The Public Works Department uses a combination high-pressure jetter and vacuum machine to clean the entire city every three years.  They also use a camera to inspect the lines to ensure there are no blockages, broken pipes, or offset joints that could cause backups.  They also inspect and maintain the eight lift stations to ensure they are properly pumping sewage from one pipe uphill to another pipe.  

Sewer Backups

If you experience a sewer backup in your home please call 651-766-4029 during business hours or 651-767-0640 after hours.  A member of the Public Works Department will respond as soon as they can and determine if the blockage is in the City-owned main or if it is in the private service line.  If it is in the City-owned main the blockage will be cleared as soon as possible by City staff.  If it is in the private service line the property owner is responsible for clearing the blockage.