BC 1 Call reminds residents to call before clearing blocked sewers
BC 1 Call is marking September 16-20, 2024 as Sewer Safety Awareness Week, to raise awareness among British Columbians about the potential hazards of clearing a blocked sewer without first calling BC 1 Call.
During the last four years, 47% of gas line damage incidents related to work done on sewer infrastructure occurred due to failure to contact BC 1 Call, and 85% of such incidents were due to the failure to follow safe digging practices. These percentages include a number of sewer cross bore cases.
If a sewer blockage occurs within the home, the homeowner or a licensed plumber can handle it safely. However, if the obstruction is located outside the home’s foundation, there is a potential risk that a gas line cross bore exists in the sewer main (watch this video from FortisBC describing a cross-bore incident).
“FortisBC is focused on eliminating all legacy instances of cross-bore gas lines running through unpressurized utility mains. In collaboration with WorkSafeBC and local governments, we have made great strides, and are keen to identify and correct the remaining locations,” said Jimmy Yip, Damage Prevention Manager, FortisBC.
BC 1 Call’s Sewer Safety Awareness Campaign is an important way to raise awareness of the potential existence of cross bore gas lines in sewers. When workers and the general public place a BC 1 Call locate request for a cross bore check, FortisBC will dispatch an investigator to the site as soon as possible.”
Fortunately, cases of sewer cross bores are now uncommon and can remain undetected and coexist safely until a sewer blockage necessitates clearing. If a sewer needs to be unblocked at the point of the cross bore, it becomes potentially hazardous.
“BC Municipal Safety Association supports BC 1 Call’s 2024 Sewer Safety Awareness Week Campaign,” said said Mike Roberts, CEO, BC Municipal Safety Association.
“This initiative highlights the importance of safety in sewer maintenance. Initiating a lateral (cross-bore) check with local gas companies before unblocking sewer lines is a critical health and safety practice. It ensures that the process of clearing blockages does not interfere with gas lines, thereby preventing potential incidents. Collaboration between municipal workers and gas companies can significantly enhance community safety. This practice is essential for maintaining health and safety standards.”
Before undertaking work to unblock a sewer outside their residence, a homeowner should first reduce the risk of hitting a gas line by:
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Calling BC 1 Call at 1-800-474-6886 and telling the agent you would like a “Cross Bore Check”
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BC 1 Call will notify its member that provides natural gas to the property, and that utility will dispatch someone expeditiously to perform a free onsite inspection
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If there is no cross bore, you or your plumber will be given the okay to clear the blockage.
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If there is a potential sewer cross bore, the gas line will be relocated at no cost to you.
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Promoting Sewer Safety
Sewer Safety Awareness Week is a new educational initiative that aims to raise awareness among the public and industry professionals of the need to do a “Cross Bore Check” with the local gas company before unblocking a sewer main outside of the home. Raising awareness of this safety best practice is supported by WorkSafeBC and BC’s key associations focused on safety in public works. BC 1 Call and the campaign’s founding supporters are keen to prevent avoidable injury and, over time, clear BC of all remaining sewer cross bore cases.
