Sewer Department - Town of Jay, Maine

If you have a specific question or require additional information, please feel free to contact us.

After Hours Emergency: Franklin County Dispatch Center (207) 778-6140

Sewer Information

If you have a specific question or require additional information, please feel free to contact us.

After Hours Emergency: Franklin County Dispatch Center (207) 778-6140

Frequently Asked Questions

Line Problems:

I have sewage flowing into my home from my sewer service line. Who do I call?

Call the Franklin County Dispatch Center at (207) 778-6140. The dispatcher will contact the “on call” person for the Sewer Department. This could be a problem with the Town Sewer Main which could cause damage to your home. The dispatcher will contact the Sewer Department personnel to respond to your home immediately.

If I am having a problem with my service line after normal business hours and/or I get a recorded message at the Sewer Department, who do I call?

Call the Franklin County Dispatch Center at (207) 778-6140. The dispatcher will contact the “on-call” person for the Sewer Department.

I am on Town Sewer and my sewer line seems to be plugged. Who should I call first – a plumber or the Sewer Department?

Call the Sewer Department first. The main in the street may be causing the problem. If so, the Town will solve the problem without cost to the homeowner. If a plumber is called first and determines the problem is in the Town sewer main, the homeowner will most likely receive a bill for the plumber’s services. This bill will not be paid by the Town.

Billing Questions:

I know that the Town uses my winter quarter water usage to determine my sewer fee, but what is the actual calculation that they perform to determine my sewer fee?

Note: The following example of a sewer billing calculation will be performed utilizing sewer rate values for the fiscal year 2022-23 billing cycle which include a minimum use quantity of 3,200 cubic feet with a minimum use fee of $315.00 and a charge of $0.095 per cubic feet of usage over the 3,200 cubic foot minimum use quantity.

Suppose that your winter quarter water usage was 1,500 cubic feet. The Town multiplies the 1,500 cubic feet by 4 which equals 6,000 cubic feet of usage annually. The Town then subtracts the minimum use quantity of 3,200 cubic feet from the 6,000 cubic feet of annual usage which equals 2,800 cubic feet. The 2,800 cubic feet is then multiplied by a fee of $0.095 per cubic foot of usage which equals $266.00. Then, a minimum use fee of $315.00 for the first 3,200 cubic feet of usage is added to the $266.00 to arrive at a total sewer fee of $581.00.

I spend my winters in the southern states. Therefore, I have the water shut off and do not reside in my home for a good portion of the year. Can I receive an abatement for any portion of my sewer bill?

No, but your sewer bill may be calculated in a different manner. Contact the Town Office for the proper form.

I use a large amount of water over the course of the year, but the amount that I use each quarter varies greatly. Sometimes my winter quarter reading is more than 20% greater than the other 3 quarters. How would the Town calculate my sewer fee?

If you notify the Town that your water usage varies greatly from quarter to quarter, they may use all 4 quarters to calculate your sewer fee rather than using the winter quarter reading and multiplying it by 4.

The pipes in my basement froze and burst. Therefore, my winter quarter water reading was much higher than the other 3 quarters of the year. Can the Town calculate my sewer fee without utilizing the winter quarter reading?

The Town may use the average of the previous three quarters’ water usage to calculate the sewer fee if the water from the burst pipes did not flow to the Town sewer system. If the water from the burst pipes did flow to the Town sewer system, the Town may use the total of the winter quarter’s usage plus the three previous quarter’s usage to calculate the sewer fee. In either case, it is the customers’ responsibility to notify the Town of such an instance.

Building and Use Questions:

I plan to build a house in Jay and wish to connect to the Town Sewer System. Who do I contact?

Call the Sewer Department at (207) 645-4246. A sewer connection permit is required prior to connection to the Town Main. Town Sewer does not serve all areas of the Town. Therefore, the Sewer Department will need to know the location of your intended connection to determine whether or not Town Sewer service will be available. The connection fee for residential customers is $100.00 and the cost for commercial establishments is $200.00.

Who connects my home to the Town Sewer Main?

A contractor is hired by the homeowner to install the service line and make the connection to the Town Main under the supervision of the Sewer Department staff. All costs associated with the service connection are borne by the homeowner.

Do I need a backflow preventer for my sewer service line?

Yes. A backflow preventer is required as per the Maine State Plumbing Code, Section 710.1, and is required by the Town of Jay Sewer Use Ordinance, Section 2.2, Q. The Town will not be responsible for backup into homes or businesses without backflow preventers (or with faulty backflow preventers).

Once the service line is installed and operational, does the Town assume responsibility for the maintenance of my service and its connection to the main?

No. The homeowner is responsible for their service line and its connection to the Town main. The Town is responsible for the maintenance of the sewer main in the street from manhole to manhole.

I have some used cooking oil, bacon fat, dish cloths, battery acid, used motor oil, anti-freeze, small toys, extra dish soap and a 5 gallon container of liquid that I have no idea what it is, etc. – can I dispose of these materials by pouring them down the sink or by flushing them down the toilet?

No. The Town sewer system and treatment facilities are not designed to handle these sorts of waste. By disposing of these types of materials in this manner you could damage or plug your own service line causing a backup into your home. You could also cause damage to the main or cause an upset at the treatment facility. You should know that most discharges of this type can be traced back to their point of origin (CSI Sewer Department style). All costs related to damages caused by these sorts of discharges may be recovered by the Town.