Frequently Asked Questions
Index
Sewer is backing up in my residence or business, what should I do?
Who is MSD and are we related to the City of Asheville?
What is a cleanout and where would it be located?
What is a manhole and where would it be located?
What is the difference between a sanitary sewer manhole and a storm drain?
What is a backflow valve and who installs it?
What do I need to do to expose my service line?
Why does the clean out need to be exposed 5' from the right-of-way?
What does "private" mean?
Why does MSD not maintain my service line all the way to my house?
Why can't MSD locate a customer's tap? Who can locate it?
What is a private system?
Why am I on a private sewer system and paying a MSD sewer bill, but MSD does not
maintain my line?
What is a service line?
What is a main line?
Is there a charge if I call MSD about a sewer backup?
Why are there flags in my yard or markings spray painted on the street?
How many miles of pipe does MSD maintain?
How much wastewater does MSD treat per day?
How many people work at MSD?
Where does the treated wastewater go?
How does a company do business with MSD?
Sewer is backing up in my residence or business, what should I do?
Call MSD first. We can be contacted at 828-255-0061, 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. We will promptly dispatch a crew to check the main sewer at no charge to
you. If there is a cleanout at the public right-of-way, MSD will also inspect
the cleanout to determine the location of the blockage in the service line. MSD
will clear the stoppage if it is in the MSD main sewer line or the portion of
the service line in the public right-of-way. If the stoppage is in the private
property section of the service line, MSD personnel will notify the owner and
advise if a plumber should be called.
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Who is MSD and are we related to the City of Asheville?
The Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County was established under an
act of the state legislature and is a local governmental agency providing waste
water collection and treatment services to approximately 42,000 residences and
business located in several municipalities and certain unincorporated areas in
Buncombe County. The governing board is comprised of twelve members appointed by
eight local governments. We are not directly affiliated with the County or City
government but both have representation on our board of directors. Board
meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. at MSD
Administrative offices located at 2028 Riverside Drive, Asheville, N.C. Board
meetings are open to the public.
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What is a cleanout and where would it be located?
A cleanout is used as an access point into a customer’s sewer line for cleaning
or clearing blockages. They are usually located on service lines at the public
right-of-way or at boundaries of MSD’s easement and are approximately 4” in
diameter. Some cleanouts will have a metal cover over them to protect them from
getting broken. These covers are 6” in diameter and typically have the work
“sewer” stamped on the cover. These cleanouts are maintained by MSD. Cleanouts
are also located next to houses and building to allow for easy access for
property owners or plumbers to clean service lines or clear blockages on the
private side of service lines. These cleanouts are not maintained by MSD.
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What is a manhole and where would it be located?
Manholes are used to access our underground infrastructure. It is round and is
usually located in the road or MSD’s right-of-way. It is a base with lines
coming through it for access to sewer lines and can be used to clear stoppages.
Typical manhole lids are 24” in diameter.
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What is the difference between a sanitary sewer manhole and a storm drain?
The storm drain/storm sewer collects rainwater runoff and transports this storm
water to creeks, rivers, and then to our oceans. This water is collected through
inlets located on our streets and in ditch lines by the streets. Storm water
drains should carry only water and should not be used to dispose of chemicals,
pollutants, or human waste. Storm drains are typically maintained by city,
county, or state agencies and does not fall under MSD’s jurisdiction. Sanitary
sewer manholes are access points on the sanitary sewer collection system that
are designed to carry sewage (waste water) from homes or businesses to a water
reclamation plant (sewerage treatment plant). This wastewater will be treated
then released into the French Broad River.
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What is a backflow valve and who installs it?
A backflow valve can greatly reduce your possibility of a sewer back up. A
backflow valve is a fixture installed into a sewer line to prevent sewer
backflows. A properly installed and maintained backflow valve works on a one-way
system. Sewage can go out, but cannot come back in. Property owners are
responsible for the installation and maintenance of backflow valves. The cost to
install one is dependent upon the type of plumbing in your home and the
difficulty of installation. A qualified plumber can assist you in determining
your needs.
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What do I need to do to expose my service line?
A service line needs to be dug out and exposed large enough so that a man can
get down in the hole, cut the pipe, and install the clean out with little to no
digging required.
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Why does the clean out need to be exposed 5' from the right-of-way?
Five feet from the right-of-way would be five feet behind a curb or sidewalk. If
there is a sidewalk or asphalt that runs right up to the building, MSD will pay
to put the concrete or asphalt back. If the MSD main line runs off the road and
there are question about where ROW is, a System Services employee can assist
with marking the line or showing the customer about where it lays.
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What does "private" mean?
Private means that the problem a customer is experiencing is not related to a
sewer line that MSD maintains and may be in their own plumbing. At this point,
they will need to hire a plumber for further assistance.
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Why does MSD not maintain my service line all the way to my house?
MSD only assists in the maintenance of service lines that are in the public
right-of-way, providing that there is access on it. Anything beyond that would
be on private property and MSD has no jurisdiction at that point.
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Why can't MSD locate a customer's tap? Who can locate it?
MSD can not locate individual service taps. We have no knowledge of where house
lines tie into MSD’s main line. A plumber with locating equipment should be able
to locate your line for you.
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What is a private system?
A private sewer collection system is a system which is not owned or maintained
by MSD. Private collection systems are usually owned and maintained by
individuals, firms, homeowner’s associations, or other such private entities.
Systems that were private at the time the District took over ownership of the
local sewers are still considered private as they were never taken over by the
local township or city prior to this time. A sewer collection system is any
sewer line which has more than one connection to a common line.
The District is aware of many private and unclaimed systems. To address the
situations that pose a direct threat to the public’s health and welfare, the
District has a Private Sewer Rehabilitation Program in place. If you have been
cited by NCDENR or have had multiple backups documented by MSD System Services,
you are eligible to apply for the program. Please call 828-254-9646 for further
details.
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Why am I on a private sewer system and paying a MSD sewer bill, but MSD does not
maintain my line?
Customers connected to sewers which are located outside the District’s
right-of-way and whose wastewater flows into lines within the District pay sewer
charges to maintain the lines within the District and for treatment of the
wastewater.
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What is a service line?
A service line is an individual residence or business sewer pipe which comes
from your house or business to MSD’s main sewer pipe. Service lines are
maintained by the customer.
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What is a main line?
A main line is that larger pipe usually in the street or MSD’s right-of-way
which carries sewer to the Treatment Plant for treatment. These are the pipes
which service all residential and business areas and carry waste water from the
connected laterals to the wastewater treatment plant. They will be the pipes
that are in the manholes you frequently see about our streets and other areas.
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Is there a charge if I call MSD about a sewer backup?
There is no charge for MSD to check the problem whether it is found with the
public sewer or not.
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Why are there flags in my yard or markings spray painted on the street?
It is generally because there is excavation work being
planned in the area by a utility company or a contractor. The flags or marks
show the location of buried utility lines. Before MSD would do any excavation
work on your property, you would be contacted unless an emergency situation
arises.
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How many miles of pipe does MSD maintain?
Approximately 950 miles of public sewer pipes, ranging from 6" to 66" in
diameter.
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How much wastewater does MSD treat per day?
MSD is averaging 16 million gallons of wastewater through the plant every day.
However, 40% of that is from infiltration and inflow, which means it comes from
sources that are not supposed to be entering the system, such as groundwater and
rainwater.
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How many people work at MSD?
We employ about 150 full time staff with duties ranging from maintaining the
sewer lines, overseeing 30 pump stations, operating the treatment plant,
engineering sewer line rehabilitation projects, and monitoring industrial waste
and reducing grease from restaurants.
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Where does the treated wastewater go?
The treated water is returned to the French Broad River. The returning
wastewater stream amounts to less than 2% of the downstream flow. The
treated water entering the river has a lower bacteria count than the river.
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How does a company do business with MSD?
Contact Julie Willingham, Purchasing Coordinator at 828-225-8256. Click
here to send her an email.
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