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Council hears resident’s sewer backup: staff recommends re-laying shallow private service
Summary
Televised inspection found a private sewer service only about 4–4.5 feet deep with standing water and a long flat run that causes freezing and periodic backups; staff recommended re-laying roughly 150 feet of service at a lower grade (estimated about $18,000) and will return with options after consulting the homeowner.
City staff briefed the Isanti City Council on a recurring sewer-backup problem affecting a homeowner near the Railroad Avenue/Palomino intersection and presented repair options.
Televised inspection revealed the private service line runs on a long, flat diagonal across the intersection and is unusually shallow — around four to 4.5 feet deep — leaving standing water that freezes in winter and allows clogs to back up to a recently added cleanout. Public works staff said the line appears to have been privately installed when the property converted from septic to sewer around 2000 and that no clear city permit or inspection record exists for that connection.
“...it turns out it’s only four to four and a half ft deep and diagonally crossing our street,” Jason said, describing the line’s shallow cover and the long trapped run. Staff said a permanent fix would be to relay roughly 150 feet of the service under the street, tap into the manhole at a lower elevation and provide adequate slope so the line does not trap water; that option was estimated at approximately $18,000 using current bid-item pricing.
Staff also discussed short-term measures: jet-cleaning the line to clear the existing clog as a temporary relief and making the cleanout watertight or insulating over it to prevent surface discharge while the parties consider a permanent repair. Council directed staff to invite the homeowner to the next meeting, prepare clear repair options and cost breakdowns, and explore whether insurance or other resources might apply.
