Testing has shown that some of the issues affecting Harrisonburg’s sewer systems are coming from pipes owned by homeowners in the HN02-05 sewer basin, things as small as a missing or broken cleanout cap or as significant as a crack in the pipe. We can’t know for sure what’s happening on your property without your help. Fixing the problem helps protect your property from flooding, sewer backups and increased costs.
What is HN02-05?
HN02-05 is a sewer basin in Harrisonburg which includes many sewer pipes that carry wastewater.
Many problems are happening within this area which you can see (in green) on the map available on this page. This basin drains into the Blacks Run North Interceptor, which is a critical component of the City’s sanitary sewer system.
Based on recent flow monitoring data, HN02-05 shows the highest infiltration rate among all monitored sewer basins in the City. This means that HN02-05 allows more unwanted water into the sewer system than any other basin in Harrisonburg, making it a critical focus area for fixing problems
Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) refers to groundwater and stormwater that enters the sanitary sewer system through defects, cracks, or improper connections. This extra water does not need treatment but ends up at the wastewater treatment plant anyway, straining the system and increasing costs for everyone.
How we can help make fixing the issue easier:
Fill out a simple form to apply for FREE money, from the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to pay for the necessary repairs.
Additional information is available on the application form (PDF).
Questions while filling out the form? Contact either:
- Kristin McCombe: Kristin.McCombe@HarrisonburgVA.gov, 540-432-7701
- Amir Forghani: Amir.Forghani@HarrisonburgVA.gov, 540-434-9959
To submit this form, you can:
- Bring it to City Hall: Come to the 3rd floor and enter the City Manager’s Office.
- Mail it to City Hall: Mail to Kristin McCombe, City Manager’s Office, 409 S Main St, Harrisonburg VA 22801
- Scan & E-Mail it to Kristin McCombe: Scan all pages of your application and email it to Kristin.McCombe@HarrisonburgVA.gov
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the problem?
Harrisonburg’s sanitary sewer system is designed to carry wastewater only. However, in some areas, like yours, groundwater and stormwater enter the system through leaks, cracks, and improper connections in the pipes. This issue is known as Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) which:
- Reduces available sewer capacity
- Increases treatment costs
- Raises the risk of sewer backups and overflows, especially during wet weather.
- How do you know there’s a problem?
As part of the HN02-05 investigation, Public Utilities conducted smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system. And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like - we pump smoke into the sewer system, and if we see smoke rise in yards around the area, we know there’s an issue with the line that’s letting the smoke escape. Smoke observed on or near your property indicates a potential defect or improper connection associated with your private sewer lateral. These defects can allow rainwater or groundwater to enter the sanitary sewer system in the same way the smoke escaped. The City is contacting affected property owners to help identify and correct these issues.
- What caused these problems?
These problems come from both public and private sewer systems, including:
- Aging sewer pipes and manholes
- Leaking joints and structural defects
- Broken or cracked private sewer laterals
- Open or damaged ground access (manhole lids and cleanout caps)
- Improper connections allowing stormwater into sanitary lines
- What is being done to fix the problems with the public sewer systems?
We are taking a progressive, data-driven approach, focusing on the public sewer components first, inspecting and repairing public pipes and manholes in the public sewer systems.
- Why are you giving out free money for repairs?
Every year, the federal government gives the City of Harrisonburg money to improve local neighborhoods. This money is given to us through something called the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
We want to use some of our CDBG grant to help people make repairs to their private sewer lines in the HN02-05 sewer basin area. These repairs will help protect you and our entire sewer system.
- What is Inflow and Infiltration?
- Infiltration: is groundwater that seeps into the sewer system through cracked pipes, deteriorated joints, or faulty manholes
- Inflow: is stormwater that enters directly through improper connections, such as downspouts, sump pumps, or area drains connected to the sanitary sewer instead of the storm sewer.