Blocked sewer line?
If you, your plumber or contractor need to clear a blockage in a sewer service line beyond the outside wall of a home or business with rotating or water jetting (flushing) equipment, it is extremely important to obtain a natural gas line locate BEFORE attempting to clear it, even if you are not a natural gas customer. Contact Enbridge Gas New Brunswick at 1-800-994-2762 for a free natural gas locate.
Q: What’s the connection between a blocked sewer line and a natural gas line?
A: Utilities that use equipment to install underground infrastructure without using a trench (trenchless technology) have become aware, in recent years, that some of their infrastructure may have intersected with existing municipal sewer lines. This affects underground infrastructure including power, telecommunication and natural gas lines in jurisdictions across North America.
Under these circumstances, a natural gas line will remain in a safe condition as long as it is left alone. However, a serious safety risk could arise if power equipment is used to clear a sewer service line and causes damage to the natural gas line.
Q: My sewer is blocked, what should I do?
A: If you, your plumber or contractor need to clear a sewer service line beyond the outside wall of a building using rotating or water jetting (flushing) equipment, it is very important that you call Enbridge Gas New Brunswick at 1-800-994-2762 (select prompt #4) to schedule a free natural gas pipeline locate before doing any further work.
Even if you have called or had work done in the past, we encourage you to call each time.
If you do not need to go beyond the outside wall of a building to fix the problem or if you use a video inspection to confirm there is no natural gas line in the sewer, you do not need to call Enbridge Gas New Brunswick.
Q: I’m not a natural gas customer, should I have to call?
A: Yes. Even if you are not a natural gas customer, your property may be located near the natural gas distribution system which means it is still important to call to obtain a natural gas locate prior to conducting any work beyond the outside wall of a building.
Q: How do I know if a natural gas line has been damaged?
A: Signs that a natural gas line has been damaged during a sewer service line clearing could include the following:
- Bubbling water
- A hissing sound
- Natural gas odour (similar to the smell of rotten eggs)
- Blowing dirt