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Williamsport Municipal Sanitary Authority has approved a revision of its repair policy for customers in 2020.
"If gas companies are replacing main lines beneath streets and they damage a portion of the lateral, the Williamsport Sanitary Authority will repair it and cover the expenses," said Michael Miller, authority executive director.
The revised policy was approved recently by the authority board, he said.
"We are trying to help property owners and our authority to clarify where ownership of sewer laterals exist," Miller said.
To discharge the sewer, each home or business has a lateral line that connects to the main line, he said. Also, between the sidewalk and the right-of-way, is a device called a "cleanout," with a cap on it that enables access to the lateral, he said.
So, whenever there is a problem, such as clog or failure of lateral pipes, the homeowner pays for the plumber and it is at the resident's cost. If there is a utility company that is installing a main for gas or other utility service and there is damage or a problem on the authority side of the cleanout on the lateral, it will be the authority's responsibility to repair and cover the cost of repair, Miller said.
"The policy states cleanout will create a barrier of ownership," he said.
Miller said it is part of the continued commitment of the authority to provide good customer service.
Sometimes, the cleanout is not installed on the lateral. In these cases, ownership belongs to the property owner entirely to the main, Miller said.
If the gas company damages the line on a lateral that does not have a cleanout, the authority will repair the lateral and install a cleanout, he said.
"We are trying to help property owners and do our best to provide customer service as best we can for the homeowner," he said.
Adam Winder, city streets and parks department general manager, said he was aware of the cleanout devices as a point of entry for plumbers and others to access the sanitary lines and lateral. He said what the authority is doing is going to further delineate which party is responsible and he agreed with it.