Legal Documents of Jefferson City

The City of Jefferson City has no responsibility for maintenance of sewer lines on private property. Its employees are prohibited from working on private sewer lines for the purpose of repairing leaks, unstopping blockages, etc. The city shall not pay a property owner nor a private plumber for unstopping blockages that may be found in a city sewer line. If in the process of unstopping a blockage in a private sewer line, the property owner or plumber finds, or has reason to believe, that there is a blockage in the city sewer line, they are obligated to report the blockage to the city, and city work forces will unstop the blockage or make any other necessary repairs to the city sewer line.

Back flow prevention valves are required on all new sanitary sewer installations. Back flow prevention valves are designed to prevent excessive accumulation of sewerage in the event that either a private sewer line or the city sewer line becomes blocked. The city strongly encourages every sewer customer to install a back flow prevention valve as the best protection against accumulation of sewerage in the event of a blockage. The City of Jefferson City shall not be liable for accumulation of sewerage in residences, businesses, or industrial customers, unless it can be clearly shown that the blockage was due to the city's negligence. (1996 Code, § 13-206)