Village of Valley Stream unveils sewer lateral program

Nobody thinks about it until there’s a problem.”

Eliot Bloom Director, Pipelogix LMS

For more information about the sewer lateral revitalization program, go to: https://www.vsvny.org/laterals.

One of the greatest conveniences of modern times is the ability to answer nature’s call by using a toilet. With a press of the handle, the whirling flush of the wastewater clears away instantly. Rarely do we give a second thought to the lateral sewer pipes buried below our homes that make this possible, and rarer still do we consider the hazardous consequences of leaving those pipes unchecked — often until it’s too late.

“The problem is that generally these buried sewer pipes have a certain life span, but nobody touches the sewer line because it’s out of sight and out of mind. And nobody thinks about it until there’s a problem,” said Eliot Bloom, director of Pipelogix LMS Inc., a private sewer lateral contractor headquartered in Long Beach. The village, in partnership with Pipelogix LMS Inc., will roll out a new sewer lateral revitalization program for residents to resolve any issues with sewer repair and maintenance.

The price of repairing the lateral may range up to $15,000, according to Bloom. The Pipelogix program offers homeowners a subscription fee-based service plan for $15.99 a month per subscriber, or $191.88 annually, for one year for all inspection, maintenance and repair services. In each successive year, the rates will increase by $1 per month, or $12 per year.

Enrollment is proceeding on an opt-out basis. The opt-out enrollment period will begin two business days after the company mails out the forms to homeowners. If homeowners do not opt out within 30 days, they will be automatically enrolled in the program.

The village agreed to a five-year contract with Pipelogix, which may be extended for up to two five-year periods. Should a homeowner who is enrolled in the program fail to make any payments, the village will follow

its customary tax lien protocols and procedures to secure payments. A village liaison for the program is expected to be hired in the coming month, to be chosen by the village with company approval, village officials said. The company will reimburse the village for the liaison’s salary and additional costs.

So, what is a sewer lateral pipe?

Every time you flush a toilet or use the sink, your sanitary sewer lateral is the underground pipe that carries wastewater from your home at the sewage trap to the public sanitary sewer main at the curb of the street. While the main sewage collection system is managed by Nassau County through its three sewage treatment plants at Cedar Creek, Bay Park, and Glen Clove in partnership with United Waters Suez, maintaining a lateral is the homeowner’s responsibility.

The average Valley Stream home was built in 1953, and the laterals underneath many of the homes have exceeded their roughly 50-year lifespan. Bloom said he believes it’s only a matter of time before pipes, if left untreated, break and crack, causing not only a massive headache for homeowners, but also potentially environmental damage and a host of public health risks. When pipes are cracked or damaged, they leak wastewater and can contaminate ground and surface water through a process known as exfiltration. This not only erodes the soil support of a person’s home, leading to issues like sinkholes and backlogs of sewage in your basement, but also the leakage of untreated sewage in the soil can then end up in Long Island’s waterways and compromise the natural water supply.

Residents in Nassau and Suffolk counties draw drinking water from a system of aquifers beneath the surface of the Island, the main three of which are the Upper Glacial, Magothy and Lloyd aquifers, which, if compromised, could lead to outbreaks of waterborne diseases and lasting environmental harm. The village’s new program will help fulfill its larger goal of safeguarding the natural water supply and complying with the Clean Water Act, according to Valley Stream officials.

Pipelogix LMS is affiliated with the Brady Risk Environmental company, which is currently contracted by the City of Long Beach to inspect and repair sewer laterals for residents through the Long Beach Private Lateral Program. When Valley Stream sent out a request for proposals, the company was the only one that submitted a proposal, village officials said. While other companies such as New York American Waters and HomeServices provide similar services, Pipelogix stands apart for its no-dig, trenchless repair service, 24-hour call center, fully staffed personnel and wholly owned equipment.