Sewer Safety - Residential - Illinois Gas - Liberty
Blocked sewer, septic, or drain service line? Your natural gas service line could be affected.
Utilities installed using trenchless practices may have been inadvertently placed through a sewer line, resulting in what is known as a sewer cross bore. Damage to a natural gas line from intersecting with a sewer, septic, or drain service line can result in a gas leak, fire, or explosion. Take the necessary precautions to protect yourself, your employees, and others.
Liberty wants to make you aware of a potential safety issue that could arise if you attempt to clear a blocked sewer, septic, or drain service line beyond the outside wall of a home or
building.
- It is possible that natural gas lines installed using trenchless practices may have inadvertently penetrated sewer, septic, or drain service lines.
- A natural gas line that has penetrated one of these lines may remain undetected for years. Clearing sewer, septic, or drain service lines with any rotating equipment or water jetting (flushing) equipment could damage natural gas lines.
- A damaged natural gas line could result in a natural gas leak into the sewer, septic, drain service line, sewer mains, septic tanks, drain systems, and nearby buildings, posing an immediate safety risk.
- The potential safety risk exists for all building types including residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial.
- Buildings without natural gas service lines may also be affected.
Before attempting to clear one of these lines beyond the outside wall of a home or building, call Liberty for a Natural Gas Safety Inspection.
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- There is no charge for this service
- Liberty will arrive to assist the homeowner or plumber and ensure the natural gas lines are not impacted
Please be advised Illinois state law requires you to call 811 at least two full business days (excluding weekends and holidays) before you dig or move earth in any way.
Signs that a natural gas line has been damaged may include:
- Bubbling water
- A hissing sound
- Natural gas odor (like the smell of rotten eggs)
- Blowing dirt
If you suspect a natural gas leak, evacuate the building immediately and then call 9-1-1, or Liberty's emergency number at 1-855-644-8134 from a safe distance.
Take the necessary precautions to protect yourself, your employees, and others.
Before clearing a blocked sewer service line beyond the outside wall of a home or building, contact Liberty for a free Natural Gas Safety Inspection. Also, state law requires you to call 811 at least two full business days (excluding weekends and holidays) before you dig or move earth in any way.
A Liberty representative will perform a Natural Gas Safety Inspection to determine whether a natural gas line may have inadvertently penetrated the sewer, septic, or drain service line. The representative may require access to the inside of the building if there are no exterior sewer, septic, or drain service line cleanouts. After the inspection, if Liberty suspects the natural gas line may have penetrated the sewer, septic, or drain sewer lines, further investigation may be necessary.
For a Natural Gas Safety Inspection, call Liberty's emergency number at 1-855-644-8134