Frequently asked questions

Excess water that flows into sewer pipes from groundwater and stormwater is called infiltration and inflow, or I/I. Groundwater (infiltration) seeps into sewer pipes through holes, cracks, joint failures, and faulty connections. Stormwater (inflow) rapidly flows into sewers via roof drain downspouts, foundation drains, storm drain cross-connections, and through holes in manhole covers. Most I/I is caused by aging infrastructure on public and private property that needs maintenance or replacement.

A “side sewer” is the privately owned and maintained sewer pipe that connects homes and businesses to the public sewer main located in the public right-of-way (under a public street, for example). Wastewater from bathrooms, kitchen sinks, and washing machines flows through interior plumbing and into the side sewer, which flows to the public sewer main.

To sign a Right of Entry agreement to allow the County to inspect and possibly replace the side sewer from the sewer main or the property line to within a few feet of the house plumbing connection. For the Skyway project, the Right of Entry agreement must be returned by June 11, 2010 to be considered as part of the project.

Defective side sewers on private property and storm drains improperly connected to the sewer are cumulatively the greatest source of groundwater and stormwater entering the sewers, contributing up to 75% of peak wet-weather flow to the sewer system. Reducing the flow of groundwater and stormwater into side sewers on private property is necessary to reduce or eliminate the need for large sewer capacity expansion projects.

Properties may be excluded from rehabilitation work for the following reasons:

• An adjacent property shares the side sewer or the side sewer straddles or crosses the property line of an adjacent property, and the adjacent property has not provided a signed Right of Entry Agreement.
• It is not possible or would be too costly to access the side sewer. For example, there may be no way to get equipment into the backyard or the side sewer may be underneath a driveway.
• Working on the side sewer would disturb landscaping, trees or surface improvements that cannot be easily or cost-effectively restored.
• King County has collected enough signed Right of Entry Agreements to reach the project goal and does not need to rehabilitate additional side sewers.
• If the side sewer was replaced recently, and does not have defects that could be contributing I/I to the sewer, it will not be replaced again as part of this project.

There will be no cost to the property owner to have their side sewer replaced. Side sewer replacements on private property will be funded by King County, with funding contributions by the local sewer agency, and done only with permission from the property owner. Those property owners that choose to participate in this project by signing the Right of Entry agreement may have their side sewer replaced as part of the project. If there are downspouts or other storm drains improperly connected to the sewer, they will be disconnected as part of the project and it will be the responsibility of the property owner to properly redirect downspouts and storm drainage. The Skyway Water and Sewer District may be able to offer advice on how to properly redirect downspouts and other storm and groundwater drainage.

Participation in the project is voluntary. If an owner chooses not to participate then the side sewer will not be considered for replacement as part of this project. If improper connections to the sanitary sewer system have been identified on the property through previous studies, then the property owner will need to bring their home into compliance with stormwater and sewer policy. The local sewer agency may be able to offer advice on how to properly redirect downspouts and other storm and groundwater drainage.

To allow enough time to gather the required minimum number of Right of Entry agreements that will make the project feasible, agreements must be requested from property owners beginning early in the design phase of the project. During the design of the project, as more detailed information is gathered, there may be some properties removed from consideration for the project due to a handful of factors explained in question number 5. While it is possible that some of the properties removed from consideration will have already signed and returned a Right of Entry agreement, most properties with a signed Right of Entry agreement will be included in the project.

Sewers are not intended nor designed to carry stormwater, groundwater or surface water runoff, and only do so under deteriorated conditions. Drainage swales and storm drains are the proper place for surface water run-off.

To minimize construction impacts on private property King County will use a construction method known as pipe bursting, which requires limited excavation, whenever possible. Before the project is completed, King County will require the contractor to restore your property as near as possible back to its pre-existing conditions. Photos will be taken of the project area on your property prior to the start of construction. Property owners will be responsible for watering and maintaining all of the new vegetation on their property as a result of this project.

No. The county must receive your signed Right of Entry agreement by the date on the agreement to be included in this project. If your Right of Entry is not on file at that time, your side sewer will not be considered for replacement as part of the project.

• View the March 2010 community meetings presentation posted on the Skyway project page
• Contact Kristine Cramer, King County Community Relations, at 206-263-3184 or kristine.cramer@kingcounty.gov
• If you have specific questions regarding the Right of Entry agreement form, please contact Hien Dung, 206-684-2093 or hien.dung@kingcounty.gov