Jeffersonville seeks solutions to costly water and sewer problems

Jeffersonville city officials are asking residents to be mindful of what they flush down the toilet after experiencing clogging in its sewer system.

At its Feb. 10 meeting, city council members discussed the stinky situation on their hands with wrongly-flushed items and other water and sewer issues Jeffersonville is facing. 

One of the city’s lift stations, which lift wastewater that’s deeper underground to a higher point or pump it directly to a treatment plant, has been getting clogged with items that shouldn’t be in the sewage to begin with.

Hair is a large culprit for the clogs in the city sewer system. 

Additional items that should not be poured down the drain or flushed include cat litter, coffee grounds, paper towels, cotton balls, feminine hygiene products, paint and — what Mayor Charles Williams said was one of the city’s largest problems — grease, fat and oils. The oil, he explained, hardens and rises to the top of the tank, which makes the station harder to clean. 

“In the summer, the grease will flow more because it’s hot, it’s warm,” he said. “But as soon as it turns cold like it is now? Now we have a grease problem.”

But those aren’t the only things making it down the drain. Williams said they’ve found shoes, clothes and condoms. 

“They’re at least practicing safe sex around here,” he joked during the meeting.

To fix these clogs, the city has to hire professionals with specialty equipment such as boom trucks and vacuum trucks, which Williams said is expensive. 

Holding contractors accountable for damage

The council discussed ongoing problems with external contractors hired by companies like AT&T and Cox. As they are installing fiber optic cables underground, they are striking water and sewer lines, then the contracted companies leave. 

Previously, the city has had to pay for the damages, but Williams said Jeffersonville is changing its approach. 

“The city is footing the $1,500 bill,” he said. “You get about three or four of those, it could throw your budget upside down for a small city.”

Before the contractors leave, the city will issue fines or citations to those responsible for the damages in order to ensure they get paid, the city attorney advised the council. 

Williams said that the companies don’t have a problem paying — in fact, they have money set aside for such situations — rather, it’s a matter of documenting the damage and having a paper trail.