An update to language in the Homewood village code will provide some clarity on who is responsible for sewer repairs from the street to a house or business.

The village board approved a measure Tuesday aimed at making the ordinance more accurate.

“The old language was mixed up with our water because it referred to a ‘curbstop’ or ‘shutoff.’ There is no shutoff or curbstop in a sewer line,” Director of Public Works John Schaefer said. “We wanted to make it a little more clear on the responsibility (for repairs).” 

A sewer line extending from the village-owned main to any building on property not owned by the village is a private sewer line. The owner of the property is responsible for any repairs or replacements to those lines. 

The ordinance also stipulates that improvements to “broken, collapsed or blocked” pipes need to be fixed within three working days from the time the owner was notified. 

Tuesday’s action doesn’t change the responsibilities of the village nor the property owner, Schaefer said. 

The change was prompted by issues at some private residences that were affected when a 60-year-old pipe in the 18800 block of Ashland Avenue collapsed in late December.

In January the village made repairs to the sewer lines that impacted residences and properties there. The village paid for the bulk of those improvements after initially telling residents they would be responsible.

At the time, public works officials said testing would eventually be conducted throughout the village to get ahead of any future problems. Homewood periodically smoke tests at-risk lines throughout the village. A non-toxic smoke is pumped into the sewer line to find cracks in pipes.

Schaefer said some of that testing has been done and is expected to begin again later in the summer and early fall.