Sewers
Q: What is the difference between storm sewers and sanitary sewers?
A: Storm sewers carry rainwater and flow directly into streams and rivers. Storm sewers are the open sewers located in the curb of streets. Sanitary sewers carry wastewater and flow into the wastewater treatment facilities operated by the City of Columbus. Sanitary sewers are covered with a manhole. The Service Department is responsible for the maintenance of storm and sanitary sewer mains. Homeowners are responsible for service lines from their home to the point where they connect with the main line. Homeowners performing maintenance to sewer lines must obtain a permit and inspection from the City of Worthington by contacting the Department of Engineering, 431-2424.

PROBLEM	LOCATION	RESPONSIBILITY
1) If water in your basement floor drain appears clear or cloudy, or if water backs up in your sink and not in the floor drain	Home Service Line	Homeowner
2) If the water backs up in your floor drain during times of heavy water usage (i.e. showers, laundry) and then recedes.	Home Service Line	Homeowner
3) If the water appears dark or putrid.	Main Line	City

Anytime water rises in your basement floor drain, call the Service Department to determine the origin and severity of the problem. Service Crews are available on a 24-hour call out basis. Call the Worthington Service Department at 431-2425, Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 5:00PM. After 5:00PM, on weekends, or on holidays, call the Worthington Police Department at 885-4463. If the problem is the Homeowner's responsibility, contact a local plumber or drain cleaner.

Q: How do I prevent a SANITARY sewer problem?
A: Never put non-biodegradable items (cloth, diapers, feminine sanitary products), grease, or food materials in your sewer line (sink or toilet).

Q: How do I prevent a STORM sewer problem?

1.  Clean out downspouts, roof drains, and gutters. Connect these fixtures properly so they drain away from your home, to the street, or to the City storm sewer.

2. Try running water and putting food coloring in your storm sewer system to see if the system is draining properly. Improperly connected drains may cause water to leak into the foundation leading to footer drains and enter your home through basement drains and/or flow directly into the City sanitary sewer system causing surcharges or overloads. This is a common cause of basement flooding in homes without sump pumps and/or closed sanitary sewer systems.

3. Never put foreign materials into storm inlets. Storm sewers, and everything you put in them, flow directly into nearby streams and rivers Leaves and other debris clog the system and may result in flooding. Gasoline or chemicals poured into the system are hazardous to the environment and may produce dangerous gases or explosions. If you notice a clogged or backed-up storm inlet, please call the Service Department at 431-2425.

Sanitary and Storm Sewer Inspections
The City of Worthington Sewer Division performs monthly inspections of sanitary sewer lines. The Sewer Division cleans sewer lines clogged due to grease and sediment and applies a herbicide to areas where tree roots are blocking the flow. As an added service to residents, the Sewer Division will send a letter to homeowners if a potential problem is seen in the Home Service Line at the connection to the City's Main Line.

The City of Worthington Water Utilities Division performs monthly storm water inlet inspections. Remember that all water in the storm sewers go directly to streams and rivers. It is illegal to place any material in storm sewers. The Water Division places "Drains to River" stickers on inlets as a reminder to the public.

• To report a sanitary or storm water concern, call the Service Department at 431-2425 or email at stormwater@ci.worthington.oh.us.
• Go to Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District www.franklinswcd.org.

Fire Hydrants
The responsibility of Fire Hydrants are shared between the Worthington Water Division and the Worthington Fire Department. The Fire Department will notify all affected residents before flushing hydrants. Questions on hydrant flushing should be directed to the Fire Department at 885-7640.

TASK	RESPONSIBILITY
Testing and Flushing	Fire Dept.
Painting	Service Dept.
Replacing & Maintenance	Service Dept.

For residents interested in using a fire hydrant to fill swimming pools or irrigate new lawns, a fire hydrant permit is required. Please keep in mind that the City of Columbus accesses a per gallon fee for these types of uses. For more information, call the Worthington Service Department at 431-2425.

  Electric
American Electric Power is the current electric service provider for the City of Worthington.

 Please contact AEP directly at 1-800-277-2177 or www.aepcustomer.com for the following scenarios:

• 1. To report power outages: AEP requests that all individual power outages be reported. Do not assume your neighbor has already called in. Your next door neighbor may be on a different line. AEP will restore power in the following order:
     1^st -  Hospitals, Police, Fire Services
     2^nd - Main lines/circuits
     3^rd -  Branch lines
     4^th -  Lines to individual customers.
  2. To report a tree problem for possible trimming: All trees that touch an electric line are handled by AEP (not the Worthington Service Department), including trees located in the public right-of-way.
  3. To report a regular AEP street light out.
• To report a safety hazard, i.e., an electrical line down or a line/pole fire. please call 9-1-1. Worthington's Safety Division will notify AEP for repair and respond to the scene.
• To report an Old Worthington street light out, please call the Worthington Service Department at 431-2425.

 Gas
Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. is the gas service provider for the City of Worthington.
    To report any gas odor = call Columbia Gas at 431-1576
    Billing/service = call Columbia Gas at 460-2222
For more information about Columbia Gas, go to www.columbiagasohio.com

 Telephone
SBC/Ameritech is the local service provider for the City of Worthington.
    To report outage and questions on billing/service = call Ameritech at 1-800-572-4545
For more information about SBC/Ameritech, go to http://www05.sbc.com/

 Cable
There are 2 cable service providers for the City of Worthington: Time Warner and Wide Open West.

• To report outages and questions on billing/service for Time Warner Cable, call 481-5050
• For more information about Time Warner, go to www.twcol.com
• To report outages and questions on billing/service for Wide Open West, call 1-800-848-2278.
• For more information about Wide Open West, go to http://www.wideopenwest.com

 back to top