Government
The 3 Types of Residential Sewer Lines in New York City
Sewer lines carry storm water and your home’s wastewater away from your property. Compare the different types of sewer lines in New York City homes.
Wastewater drains from toilets, sinks, showers, and water-using appliances. Sewer lines manage wastewater disposal, helping to keep homes clean, sanitary, and functional.
Sewer systems may combine wastewater and storm water or keep them separate. Review this comparison of the three types of residential sewer lines in New York City.
Combined Sewer Line
Combined sewer systems, also called combined sewer overflows, combine wastewater and stormwater runoff. In dry weather, the combined system reliably carries wastewater from the home to the treatment plant for processing.
However, heavy rain and snowmelt can overwhelm the combined system. When the system cannot process the volume of wastewater and stormwater, excess water and sewage may overflow into nearby water bodies to prevent sewage backups into homes. This problem is one reason why combined sewer lines have become less prevalent.
Sanitary Sewer Line
Another type of residential sewer line in New York City is the sanitary sewer line. These sewer lines only accept wastewater, which reduces the threat of sewer overflow. Sanitary lines carry water to a municipal sewer main that brings the water to a treatment facility.
A home’s private sewer line connects to the municipal system at a sewer connection point. There are three types of sewer connections used in NYC, with spur connections being the most common because of their functionality and affordability.
Storm Sewer Line
The storm sewer line accepts stormwater and snowmelt from rooftops, drains, and roadways. The storm sewer line prevents runoff from flooding or eroding your property.
Some storm sewer lines have detention tanks that hold the water for an interval to avoid overwhelming the sewer system. Treatment plants do not process water from a storm sewer line. Instead, the system discharges the water into creeks, lakes, and rivers.
Combined, sanitary, and storm sewer lines convey wastewater and precipitation to treatment facilities and bodies of water. Knowing the differences between these systems helps residents understand how their plumbing protects their properties and maintains proper sanitation levels.
