**Notice: Sanitary Sewer Cleaning in Northwest Ripon, starting 4/1/25**

City of Ripon Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Televising

The City of Ripon has contracted with Speedy Clean to clean and televise the existing sanitary sewer in the northwest section of the City. They are scheduled to begin work on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. This work consists of a small crew operating a pressurized jet and vacuum system, which typically involves one large truck. The crew will access the sewer lines from manholes within the roadway, and they will have traffic control such as cones, flashers, etc. set up around the work zones.

 

The cleaning and televising are scheduled to be completed over a period of 3 to 4 weeks. Please refer to the attached map for the project’s location.

 

Cleaning Process

During the cleaning process, sewer lines can experience changes in air pressure or develop a partial vacuum. Typically, any excess air pressure or vacuum dissipates through plumbing vents. However, some facilities may have inadequate plumbing vents—such as missing, undersized, or obstructed vents. In these cases, air pressure can escape through toilets, floor drains, sinks, tubs, or shower drains, which may cause water to splash out. Additionally, vacuums can draw water out of the traps in these fixtures, leading to unpleasant odors. This phenomenon is known as "blow back."

 

What can I do to prevent "blow back" into my home during the cleaning process?

To minimize blowback during the cleaning process, we recommend covering all floor drains with plastic or an old towel that can be disposed of afterward. Place a weight on top of the plastic or towel to keep it secure. Additionally, lower toilet lids and place a towel over them. To prevent unpleasant odors, pour water into each drain to fill the traps.

 

The actual cleaning process, which occurs from manhole to manhole, is relatively quick. However, you may notice the cleaning equipment in the area for a longer period due to setup and teardown. The cleaning that will directly affect your home should not take more than a few hours.

 

What to do if you experience "blow back"?

Recovery from a "blow back" event is simply a matter of removing any debris and cleaning of the floors, toilets, sinks, baths, or showers that may have been impacted. You may continue normal use. Sewage "blow back" event that involves only the discharge of water to walls or surfaces do not result in any immediate health risk. However, it is important that any sewage-contaminated water, any resulting debris and surfaces that have come in contact with this water be promptly and thoroughly cleaned. This will require the removal of any debris, the cleaning of the surfaces with a soap solution, and the disinfection of hard surfaces with a diluted household bleach/water solution. Regular household cleaning products are all that are needed. We recommend the use of rubber gloves. Never mix ammonia and chlorine products such as household bleach.