Wastewater FAQs

Yes. Please note: Sump pumps should never be connected to the Township sanitary sewer system. A municipal wastewater specialist is always available to help, simply by calling 610-814-6476, 24/7/365. For more information on Sump Pumps please Click HERE.

The Authority understands how protruding threaded sewer cleanout caps can be somewhat of a nuisance when cutting grass, or even a bit of an eye sore. However, there are steps you can take to keep them assessable in the event a block were to occur, while lowering them to the ground surface. Cleanout access caps can be lowered to surface level, allowing a lawn mower to pass over them. Consider replacing the top cap(s), once lowered with specially designed tops that have an square inverted center that plumbers carry a tool that makes opening the cleanout easy business. Having a cap accessible can reduce a great deal of stress when trying to find them. Buried caps can turn a siple task into a major issue.

No problem, the Authority has a "free" sewer clean-out cap replacement program. We ask that you don't make a habit out of chewing up clean-out caps, but we understand sometimes things just happen. The Township Physical Plant Division can be reached 24/7/365 at 610-814-6476. The caps are provided by the Municipal Authority in an ongoing effort to keep rainwater out of the sanitary sewer, as well as foreign materials not meant to enter the system. If you have chewed up a yard or curb cleanout cap, or even just found one broken, give us a call, and we will replace at no cost to you.

If you are inexperienced at tracking down the location of a sewer block, we recommend calling a qualified professional plumber. They can quickly determine where a block is located. However, there is a simply way to determine if you should call the Bethlehem Township Physical Plant Division first. If sewage is running into your home continuously (out of clean-outs, floor drains, or even basement level toilets, sink, shower, or tub when you are not running any plumbing devise, this is a sign that the main public sewer line is blocked and backing up. This usually affects the lowest connection in any given neighborhood. Many times it affects more than just your home it is affecting your neighbors also. In severe cases it may be surfacing around the manhole lids in the street. If you see any of these signs, immediately call 610-814-6476 and a service technician will respond to your call, in most cases just a few minutes. Remember to leave your name, return phone number, and address. However, if you only experience overflowing conditions when you flush a toilet, run a sink, shower or empty a bathtub, the problem is generally localized to your homes private sewer line, and you need the services of a plumber. Never hesitate to contact the Physical Plant Division and ask for help, we are here to provide the best possible service we can.

Pool water is not just comprised of water from your hose, it is a collection of rainwater, which we battle to keep out of the sewer system, as part of an ongoing effort to reduce unnecessary wastewater conveyance and treatment costs. Unmetered rain water is a financial drain on the Township, and the cost to handle it is born by all customers. If you have a deduction meter where you receive a credit for that water, then the water in the pool is completely unmetered, discharging to the sanitary sewer system would be a violation of municipal ordinance. However, Township Ordinance permits pool water to discharge to the stormwater system, directly, and even indirectly. This can sometimes cause issues, since you should never discharge a pool where the water flow affects other property owners, or makes the roadway unsafe. If your pool is metered, and you have received a sanitary sewer (deduction) credit discharging to the stormwater system is your only choice. Just use caution and be considerate to others. If you need to discharge to the sanitary sewer system, please give us a call at 610-814-6476 and we will assist you in the effort. Although discharging metered pool water by municipal Ordinance is an alternative, obtaining permission, and or seeking guidance is a much better approach than receiving an additional charge for doing it without our knowledge.

No, never under any circumstance. To read more about Sump Pump installations, visit the Municipal Authority’s Sump Pump Section of this website for more information. If you need help, the Township has field technicians free of charge to render advise and help you with solutions for sump pump use. We are here to help, by calling 610-814-6476 24/7/365.

The PA One Call system (811) is regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and requires that all underground utilities be located and clearly marked when proposed excavation is scheduled to take place (Green is for public sewer). Both the excavator and the utility company play a vital part in protecting all underground utilities from potential damage, and the safety of residents and property. For more information regarding the PA One Call system, visit; https://www.pa1call.org/. If you plan to excavate, or disturb the surface of the earth in anyway with power equipment, make the 811 call. It is for everyone’s protection!

The answer is yes, if it's not in a bag. Never flush plastic bags or any kind of plastic down the toilet. The same goes for 'flushable' wipes and 'disinfecting wipes'. The bags and wipes can cause problems not only for sewer systems, but also for the plumbing in your house. So happy pet poop flushing!

After preparing fried chicken, stir-fry, or bacon & eggs, pouring used cooking oil down the drain might seem to be the fastest and easiest solution. However, that’s the worst thing to do because grease can clog up kitchen pipes and local sewage systems. These are both situations you should avoid. Remember that even the smallest amount of grease poured down the drain on a daily basis can have a cumulative and potentially harmful effect to your home and the environment.

Never pour fats, oil, or grease down drains, even if you have a garbage disposal! It could cause sewer backups into houses or onto streets, harming wildlife and be expensive to clean up. Pour cooking oil and grease into a sealable container with an absorbent such as paper garbage and discard with your other garbage, or recycle large amounts of grease or cooking oil (including from deep fryers). For larger grease waste (such as a restaurant), visit the Municipal Authority’s FOG Program Wastewater Section for more details.

You are responsible for the proper operation and maintenance (O&M) of the pipe from your home (Building Sewer) through the Service Lateral (the connecting pipe from the Building Sewer transition to the Main, found mostly in the street) to the main sewer line. Blocks in the Building Sewer and the Service Lateral, even roots that enter at the point where the Building Sewer connects to the Service Lateral, is your O&M responsibility. However, should the Service Lateral itself break, or deteriorate, the Township will repair or replace the Service Lateral at no cost to you.