Resources

Emergency Procedures

Rules and Regulations

Best Management Practices

Frequently Asked Questions

Useful Links

Emergency Procedures

If you are experiencing a problem or emergency related to your sanitary sewer, contact SESD’s Engineer, Kennedy Jenks, at 303-985-3636, or SESD’s maintenance contractor, DES Pipeline, at 303-503-6697.

When you call, we will discuss the situation with you to determine the best course of action. If you are having intermittent backups or sluggish flow, then the problem is more likely in your sanitary sewer line and not SESD’s main sanitary sewer line. We will recommend you contact a plumbing contractor to clean and scope your sanitary sewer line.

If you are experiencing a continued backup with sewage into your home, then there may be an issue with SESD’s mainline. In this case, SESD’s maintenance contractor, DES Pipeline or the city of Englewood, will respond immediately and investigate the issue. If the sewage overflow is determined to be caused by an issue in SESD’s main line, then SESD will send a clean-up contractor who will dry out and sanitize your home where the spill has occurred. SESD does NOT pay for personal loss, re-construction of any sort or replacement of flooring.

Image showing that the The sanitary sewer line from your home or building, up to and including the tap connection into SASD’s system, is your responsibility

Homeowner Responsibility

The sanitary sewer line from your home or building, up to and including the tap connection into SESD’s system, is your responsibility. You must make sure your sanitary sewer line is maintained so that you do not experience a sewer backup into your home or business.

Common Sanitary Sewer Issues

Sewer smells from a floor drain are most commonly caused by a dry “P-Trap.” Try pouring at least a gallon of water into the drain.

“Gurgling” and “Bubbling”. SESD’s maintenance contractor and the city of Englewood uses a high-pressure jet cleaning machine. When they are jet cleaning SESD’s main sanitary sewer lines you may hear gurgling or see water bubble in the toilet bowl. In rare cases, water may splash out of a toilet bowl. Jet cleaning does not damage your sanitary sewer line. We do recommend that you make it a habit to keep toilet lids down so that water is less likely to escape the toilet bowl.

Root intrusion caused by nearby trees and shrubs. Roots can maneuver their way into the sanitary sewer at pipe joints, cracks, or holes. The roots can cause a lot of damage to a sanitary sewer line and cause backups. A professional plumber can verify the condition of your sanitary sewer line and remove the roots if necessary.

Flushing Wipes or Heavy Paper Debris. Wet “flushable” wipes are marketed as being decomposable. While this may be true to some extent, these products are not likely to decompose in the seconds it travels in your sanitary sewer line or SESD’s mainline. Wipes can easily get caught up in roots or accumulate in areas of the sanitary sewer line where there is low flow and cause blockages. It is recommended not flush these products and to dispose of them in the garbage.

Rules and Regulations

Please contact our office for a copy of our rules and regulations.

Best Management Practices

Do:

  • Do throw all food waste in garbage. Limit the use of a garbage disposal if you have any concern about backups in your sanitary sewer line.
  • Do use paper towel to soak up fats, oils, and grease, and toss paper towel in the garbage.
  • Do install strainers in sink drains to collect food debris, hair, or other material before it can enter the drain. Clean strainer and toss debris in garbage.

Don’t:

  • Don’t put fats, oils, grease (FOG) or food debris in the drains. Collect with a paper towel or drain strainer and toss in garbage.
  • Don’t pour bleach directly in the drain. Bleach dewaters grease and can make it hard as concrete.
  • Don’t use chemicals improperly. Follow directions on label, for your safety and the environments.
  • Don’t flush diapers, sanitary napkins, medical supplies, wet “flushable” wipes*, or paper towels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I pay my sewer bills to the City of Englewood?

South Englewood Sanitation District No. 1 is located in the service area for the South Platte Water Renewal Partners Wastewater Treatment Plant. This plant treats the sewage from South Englewood Sanitation District No. 1’s customers. The City of Englewood’s billing department is the billing entity for some of the Districts that contribute flows to their plant, including South Englewood.

How do I know if my house or business is located in South Englewood Sanitation District No. 1?

South Englewood Sanitation District No. 1 is listed as one of the taxing authorities in Arapahoe County Assessor’s listing, even though South Englewood has no tax levy. You can visit Arapahoe County Assessor’s website and input your address to see if your property is located in South Englewood Sanitation District No. 1. You can also use our Contact Us form.

What do I do if I have a sewer backup?

If sewage is backing up into your home, the first thing to do is to stop running water in your home (i.e. toilets, washing machines, dish washers). If the backup stops, then the blockage is in the sewer service line extending from your home to the District’s main line in the street. If sewage continues to back up into your home while you are not running water, then there may be a blockage in the main District line to which your service line connects. In this case, immediately call Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, the District’s engineering representative, at 303-985-3636; or DES Pipeline Maintenance, the District’s maintenance contractor, at 303-503-6697, or City of Englewood, at 303-762-2635 if the backup occurs outside normal business hours.

What do I do if I have a sewer backup?

If sewage is backing up into your home, the first thing to do is to stop running water in your home (i.e. toilets, washing machines, dish washers). If the backup stops, then the blockage is in the sewer service line extending from your home to the District’s main line in the street. If sewage continues to back up into your home while you are not running water, then there may be a blockage in the main District line to which your service line connects. In this case, immediately call Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, the District’s engineering representative, at 303-985-3636; or DES Pipeline Maintenance, the District’s maintenance contractor, at 303-503-6697, or City of Englewood, at 303-762-2635 if the backup occurs outside normal business hours.

How can I prevent sewer backups?

The best way to prevent sewage from backing up into your home is to keep your sewer service free of grease and roots.  Click here for some best management practices to keep grease and oil out of your sewer service. Click here for a memo that explains what you can do to address root problems in your sewer service.

My house smells like sewage gas. What can I do?

The first thing to do if you smell a sewage odor in your home is to pour water down the basement floor drain. If the water in the trap evaporates, sewage gases can come through the pipes and into your home. The second step may be to have a plumber check the vents in your home to make sure they are not blocked.

Who do I call for a final billing on a property?

For final billings, call the City of Englewood's billing department at (303)762-2635.

Arapahoe County
www.co.arapahoe.co.us

City of Centennial
www.centennialco.gov

City of Englewood
https://englewoodco.gov

City of Greenwood Village
www.greenwoodvillage.com

City of Littleton
www.littletongov.org

Colorado Department of Local Affairs
www.colorado.gov/DOLA

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
www.cdphe.state.co.us

Colorado Special Districts Association
www.sdaco.org

Denver Water 
www.denverwater.org

South Platte Water Renewal Partners Wastewater Treatment Plant
https://spwaterrenewalpartners.org/

South Metro Fire Rescue
www.southmetro.org

South Suburban Parks and Recreation
www.ssprd.org

Southgate Water and Sanitation Districts
www.southgatedistricts.org

Tri-County Health Department
www.tchd.org

Urban Drainage and Flood Control
www.udfcd.org

Willows Water District
www.willowswater.org