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Utilities to notify homeowners after smoke testing finds private sewer defects; 90‑day repair window proposed
Summary
Public utilities staff said smoke testing of sewer basins found private‑side defects and that the city plans to send homeowners letters notifying them of problems and requesting repairs within 90 days; staff said code enforcement and further follow‑up would be used if repairs are not made.
Fort Myers public utilities staff told the council they have begun a sanitary sewer evaluation that includes smoke testing of collection basins, and they plan to notify property owners where smoke tests indicate defects on private sewer laterals.
What staff said: Jason Chandra, Assistant Director of Public Utilities, explained the city’s inflow and infiltration (I&I) program and said smoke testing in several basins located defects on private sewer laterals (broken cleanouts, exposed piping and fissures in older clay mains). Staff said the program is a multi‑year, $60,000,000 effort budgeted over ten years to identify and repair I&I contributors so the city avoids lower environmental performance and the potential need for additional treatment capacity.
Notices and proposed follow‑up: staff said the utilities department plans to mail homeowners a letter identifying the observed defect and asking the owner to contract with a licensed plumber or contractor to make repairs. Staff told council the initial notice would permit 90 days for owners to complete repairs or notify staff of a repair plan; after that staff would follow up and could refer unresolved cases to code enforcement and potential civil enforcement action if necessary. Staff said the initial set of smoke‑test findings covered several basins and about “5, 6 at least 70” properties in the early effort, and that additional basins will be tested in coming months.
Council questions and staff responses: councilmembers asked about estimated costs to homeowners and whether the city could offer financing or a grant program for owners who cannot afford repairs. Staff said the scope of repairs varies (from a few hundred dollars for a repair at a cleanout to several thousand for complete lateral replacement), that the city does not typically perform private‑side repairs, and that the utilities group will evaluate options and could explore loan or payment programs if demand and need are demonstrated.
Taper: staff said the city would begin mailing the homeowner notices and will report back as the program proceeds; staff emphasized the program’s goal is to reduce I&I in the collection system, protect treatment plant performance and avoid far costlier plant expansions in the future.
