Common Sewer Pipe

[tkeachday]

New York.

Due to a flood of sewer water in our basement this past weekend we learned that we share a common pipe with our neighbors that leads to a city sewer. Their was a major clog in the pipe and it took 2 days and 4 plumbers to clear. We are in the process of filing a major claim with our insurance company due to sewer water damages.

First, are we entitled to any compensation from our neighbors insurance companies since the clog was on a shared pipe? Secondly, how can we go about reducing our risk of this ever happening again?

I have contacted the board of health for some assistance in finding out which families are connected to this pipe and also to aide in advice on how to sanitize our finished basement.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[FarmerJ]

As you might have learned common /shared sewer taps were commonly done many years ago. The best way to avoid this from happening again is to either hire out a sewer contractor to cut you off from the shared line and start clean with a single line that serves your home only all the way to the main line in the street, Or to have a check valve installed that will prevent backup from comming into your home. As far as responsibility for damage cost I have no answer for you. I had a home that was on a common sewer with the house next door and had that nbrs laundry water coming up into my units laundry tub, I paid a service to run a sewer auger and the clog was indeed far enough in the line to be in the nbrs home. You CAN contact yoru citys public works dept to learn if your address has a tap card on file and even ask them about the addresses to each side of yours to learn if they have tap cards. As far as learning what your legal options are I suggest you use the links up top and speak with a atty. Should you go the check valve route it would be a good idea to learn what your citys ordinances are regarding when you can no longer use a shared sewer tap and when you must hook up your own by asking the public works dept for the information or contacting your citys housing inspections dept plumbing inspector.