Cochran Road Treatment Plant

Pendleton Clemson Wastewater Treatment Plant

Lift Station Wet Well Cleaning

The City of Clemson maintains 17 Lift Stations throughout our service area. These stations are needed to pump sewerage from low lying areas back to our trunk lines. These pump stations vary in size from one in a back yard that handles your neighborhood to one that handles the entire downtown area.

We are currently in the process of installing automated alarm systems on the pump stations that notify us of any problems with the stations. This alleviates the necessity of having alarms on the stations where nearby homeowners have to notify us of any problems.

Manhole Inspections

Manholes are essential components of the sewer collection system and are often the only points of access into our underground infrastructure for conducting important maintenance tasks for pipes (i.e. cleaning, rehabilitation, and inspection). Without manholes, open-cut excavation and diversion of street traffic would be the only means of access. Therefore, manhole inspection and maintenance is one of the highest priorities in collection system management.

Manholes also offer an important opportunity for addressing the costly problem of infiltration and inflow, (I/I), which is a major cause of sewer overflows that pollute our waterways and environment. A manhole is essentially a vertical pipe that gives access to the horizontal pipes that form a collection system. An 8 foot deep manhole of typical design has about the same surface area as a 50 foot segment of 8 inch pipe. When thought of in terms of underground surface area, manholes become a major part of a collection system.

The data we gain from manholes gives us valuable insight into the overall condition of the sewer system such as: flow rates/hydraulics, presence of corrosive elements, evidence of surcharge, and overall capacity.

Right of Way Maintenance

The City of Clemson Utilities Department maintains the sewer line right-of-ways (ROW). We keep the areas clean and mowed to prevent root intrusion into sewer lines that would otherwise cause blockages. This allows the City to access easements for maintenance purposes. Please help us by not encumbering sewer line right-of-ways with buildings, fences, and plantings. (It is against the City Code to place these in the ROW.)

Learn more about ROW Maintenance

Sewer Line Smoke and Dye Test

The City of Clemson Utilities Department uses smoke and dye testing to determine if there are problems with the City sewer lines. Smoke testing can be used to see if sewer services are connected to the sewer system.

Visual inspections also play an important part in the sewer system inspection process. You may periodically see Utility personnel around town inspecting over 2500 manholes. We try to inspect these manholes at least once a year to circumvent and prevent problems that could cause backups into your home or an environmental hazard.

Sewer Line Smoke and Dye Test

The City of Clemson Utilities Department uses smoke and dye testing to determine if there are problems with the City sewer lines. Smoke testing can be used to see if sewer services are connected to the sewer system.

Visual inspections also play an important part in the sewer system inspection process. You may periodically see Utility personnel around town inspecting over 2500 manholes. We try to inspect these manholes at least once a year to circumvent and prevent problems that could cause backups into your home or an environmental hazard.

Line Cleaning and Television Inspection

The department uses a state of the art Jet Vac Truck and trailer mounted “jetter” to clean and maintain sewer lines. We can use the truck or trailer unit to open any pipeline whether it is a sewer line or a storm drain.

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