City Maintenance Routines

Sewer Cleaning
In order to maintain Altoona’s sewer system, the Wastewater Department routinely cleans the City’s sewer pipes. Using a specialized truck, staff jet water through pipes at high pressures to remove any build-up, and then vacuum the waste out of the pipes. Regular cleaning of the sewers reduces the likelihood of sewer backups. Utilities staff currently clean the existing sanitary sewer main pipes on a 5-year rotation.

Sewer Televising
City staff utilize a robotically controlled camera to inspect the inside of sewer pipes. Televised inspections are typically performed after sewer cleaning to verify the pipes were properly cleaned. Televising can also be used to diagnose sewer issues or locate sewer service lines.