News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Weinkauf Plumbing and Heating employees work on equipment used to unclog and detect sewer lines while at work on Monday.

ALPENA — Water and sewer customers in Alpena will soon have to pay significantly more to have clogged sewer lines in their homes fixed.

City government is discontinuing its service that helps people unclog sewer lines, claiming it is not a part of the contract with its utility provider Veolia and also goes against current ordinances.

Beginning on July 1, a property owner will have to hire a plumber or sewer contractor to assist with any sewer issues and Veolia staff will not respond. The service is also not included in Veolia’s current contract.

In a press release, the city explained why the change was needed.

“City ordinances indicate that the homeowner is responsible for the service up to the connection point at the main,” the release says. “The practice of entering private residences has evolved through the years as a standard service but should not be a required service from the public utility. Property owners are, and have always been, responsible for the maintenance and operation of their private sewer lines all the way to the connection point at the sewer main.”

Currently, the city charges customers that need their sewer line in their homes cleared $150 and $175 after hours. The price climbs to $200 on weekends and holidays.

Weinkauf Plumbing and Heating owner Luke Gerhart said his business already handles backed-up sewer calls and will help to fill the void left by the city walking away from the service. He said he wasn’t comfortable sharing what Weinkauf charges for a house call to unclog a sewer line for competitive reasons, but he said his employees will give detailed quotes if they are requested and work is scheduled. If a customer wants the work done right away, then there is an hourly fee, as well as an equipment fee. Like the city, it is also more costly for the customer during non-business hours, he said.

Gerhart said it is hard to set a flat rate, because each home’s sewer system is unique and each situation different. He said some simple clogs require little time and equipment, while others that are more involved and require more time mean slightly higher charges.

He said his business has a per-hour charge, as well as an equipment charge.

“There are so many variables cleaning out a sewer line,” he said. “We will always come and give a free estimate to give a customer a quote.”

The main culprits behind sewer-line plugs, Gerhart said, are people flushing items down the toilet that block the drainage system and from root buildup. However, sometimes the clogs from the roots are traced back to city-owned trees that are planted between the sidewalk and curb, but grow toward the home because of the water source.

Gerhart said it isn’t uncommon for the city’s trees to have their roots grow inside of sewer lines that have experienced damage.

“It is especially true with the maple trees,” he said. “They have a massive root system and they chase the water source. Some of the other types of trees aren’t as much of a problem.”

Alpena Engineer Steve Shultz said even if a city tree’s roots are causing backups on people’s private property, it is still up to the property owner to pay to have their sewers unplugged or repair the broken or cracked pipes that allow the roots to penetrate.

“There are very few instances where the roots cause the problem,” he said. “They respond to a crack or other damage and eventually grow into the damaged pipe.”

Shultz said people can also rent a motorized sewer snake from a local hardware store and do the work themselves.

At Fitzpatrick’s Hardware and Lumber, a person can rent a motorized auger to clean their sewer line for as little as $18 a day to $90 a day for a larger machine that can help address more serious clogs.

“I know a lot of people that do it themselves,” Shultz said. “There are a lot of people who are not afraid to do something like that. Regardless, a sewer line is something that needs general maintenance and not something you just leave until there is a problem. If you do the needed maintenance, you won’t have those problems.”

The city has a list of plumbers available at the Alpena Utility Billing Office, and in various city departments. It can also be emailed upon request.

People with questions regarding this change can contact the billing office at 989-354-1400 or the engineering department at 989-354-1730.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.