Frequent Back-Up of Sewer Lines Affect Condition of Homes

JUNE 23, 2025 |

Photo – New sewer pipe – Bigfoot99 file photo

In Rawlins, a west-side resident urged the governing body to address the frequent sewer backups affecting her home and those of her neighbors.

During the June 17th Rawlins City Council meeting, resident Kendra Sisneros addressed the governing body about sewer issues on La Paloma Drive, behind Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. Sisneros said a sewer backup in 2020 forced her to install a costly replacement pipe from her home to the city’s main line. However, the problem continued, with Sisneros reporting that sewer water from other residents has backed up into her basement at least 13 times over the past five years.

Sisneros said when the sewer backs up, two feet of sewage accumulates in her basement. The Rawlins resident said the problem is not isolated to her home. Neighbors are reporting similar issues with the city’s sewer system.

Sisneros explained when her basement floods with sewer water, she must wait for city utility crews to clear the blockage. Afterward, she wades into the sewage to clean up the mess. Sisneros said the repeated flooding has begun to damage her home.

Sisneros said the backed-up sewage has caused her to lose furniture and important family heirlooms, such as an antique dining room set and childhood memorabilia.

Public Works Director Cody Dill was asked to explain why the sewer system on La Paloma Drive has been causing wastewater to pool in residents’ homes. Dill responded the pipes in that neighborhood have settled over time, forming low spots known as bellies. When improperly disposed items, such as wet wipes, accumulate in these areas, they can obstruct the flow and back up the entire system.

Dill said homes without back flow preventers are at risk of having the sewer water rush into their homes. A sewer backflow preventer is a plumbing device that stops wastewater from flowing in the wrong direction. The device allows sewage to flow out of a person’s house but automatically closes if it detects a reverse flow from the municipal system.

The City Council then asked Dill how to stop the sewer system from flowing back up residents’ service lines and into their homes. The Public Works Director said the first step is for people to stop flushing trash and debris down their toilets.

Permanently fixing the issue will require a large-scale sewer line replacement project. Dill said he wasn’t sure how much a project of that size would cost but estimated it to be roughly $3 million.

City Manager Tom Sarvey said the city’s sewer enterprise fund, which is where the money for any sewer repair projects would need to come from, contains approximately $700,000. The city will need to obtain a loan for any projects over that amount.

The La Paloma Drive sewer system isn’t the only water and sewer-related issue the city of Rawlins is facing. A recently completed water master plan identified roughly $50 million worth of critical water infrastructure repairs.

At the June 17th meeting. Councilman Steve Sanger asked how a city of 8,000 people could ever hope to afford to fix all the water problems. Councilman Sanger said the city would need to secure loans for the repair work, and the resulting payments would significantly increase water rates.

City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave said she and City Manager Sarvey will search for funding sources once Public Works Director Dill obtains an estimate to repair the La Paloma Drive sewer system. Dill was instructed to present the information at the next City Council meeting, on July 1st.