Sewer Toolkit

Sewer backup claims cost Minnesota cities a lot of money, and can be a source of difficult interaction with residents who have been faced with sewage backups.

The Sewer Toolkit: A Guide for Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Policies and Procedures helps cities avoid sewer backups and claims through improved maintenance and documentation.

Developed by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT), with the support of a Sewer Advisory Group, the Sewer Toolkit will help cities better build and update the maintenance records of sanitary sewer systems, and to do so all in one place.

The Sewer Toolkit includes:

  • Models;
  • Forms;
  • Educational materials;
  • Other resources.

Materials designed for 3-ring binder
The Sewer Toolkit will be placed online for easy download. The materials were designed to be printed and placed in a standard, 3-ring binder.

A table of contents for the complete guide is included, as are dividers for each of the informational pieces. Pages are numbered within each section to help cities arrange things in proper order.

A brief description for each section, and a link to the materials in that section, is provided below. It is recommended that each section be divided by tabs for easy use when printed.

Acknowlegements, Introduction, Table of Contents and Dividers

Models
The system assessment will guide your city through the first step in developing a comprehensive maintenance program: Identifying and documenting the components of the system. A number of guides and model policies provide information necessary for the city to develop sewer maintenance and emergency response policies. These policies will help the city clearly explain what it does and why it does it.
Read about Sewer Toolkit Models

Forms
The actions the city takes when conducting system maintenance or responding to a report of a sewer backup should always be documented. Good documentation can be an effective method of limiting liability – it can prove the city is following established policies. In addition, documentation is a great internal management tool for tracking who did what and when.
Read about Sewer Toolkit Forms

Public Education
Property owners within the city play a key role in preventing sanitary sewer backups. Public education pieces including sample newsletter articles, utility billing stuffers and suggested web content have been developed for your city’s use. These items inform property owners of their responsibilities when using the city’s sewer system as well as what they should do in the event of a sewer backup.
Read about Sewer Toolkit Public Education Materials

Other Resources
Other issues cities should consider when developing a comprehensive sewer maintenance program include inflow and infiltration; discretionary immunity; and the LMCIT No-Fault Sewer Backup Coverage. On occasion, circumstances may require a city to bypass their sanitary sewer system. Because the requirements for sewer bypass are very specific, information from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is included in the Sewer Toolkit.
Read about Sewer Toolkit Other Resources