Show All Answers

1. What to do when sewer service panel alarm is activated?

1. Locate the service panel. The panel is located on a post or on an exterior wall of your building. The alarm sounds similar to a smoke alarm, making a high-pitched, buzzing sound. Depending on your box location, you may or may not be able to hear the alarm inside your home.
2. Call Village Sewer Operator at 845-758-1081, option 8, immediately to report the alarm. Report the alarm ASAP to avoid an overflow of your system. If you don’t call, we don’t know the alarm is going off.
3. Push the red-lit button only after notifying the Sewer Operator. This will silence the alarm. The red light will stay on as long as there is an alarm condition.
4. Conserve water. After you call be sure to conserve water. Although the tank does have some reserve capacity, the capacity varies widely, depending on water usage. With minimized water usage, the tank typically has a reserve capacity of 12 to 24 hours. Curtail water use to prevent overflow of the holding tank and your building’s plumbing system. 

• Take shorter showers 
• Don't use the washing machine 
• Minimizing toilet flushing

2. How does my STEP System work?

Your STEP system includes a septic tank, effluent pump, and control panel. The liquid waste that would normally go to the leach field in a regular individual septic system is pumped through a small pressure line into sewer lines leading to the Village's Wastewater Treatment Plants. 

The STEP system pump is controlled by a system of floats within your tank. The service panel mounted on the side of your house controls the floats and pumps. The floats ac­tivate an alarm in the service panel when the fluid level in the tank gets too high or too low. 

3. As the owner/resident, what am I responsible for?

• Repairing and maintaining the home plumbing and sewer line from the house to the STEP system tank.
• Maintaining access to Village's equipment. 
• Damages to the septic tank, service panel, or Village owned equipment if the damage is caused by the homeowner or some one other than Village personnel.
• Providing electricity for the pump and controls.
• Calling to report an alarm, and minimizing water use during an emergency.
• Eliminating the disposal of improper material into the STEP system.
  • Improper materials include "flushable" wipes, disposable diapers, feminine products, cigarette butts, hair, dental floss, food items containing seeds and peelings, fats, oils and greases, egg shells, nutshells coffee grounds, paper towels or rags or any non-organic material 
  • Limit or eliminate your use of garbage disposal. Instead, consider composting your food waste items at the Town Recycling Center.

4. What's the Village of Red Hook responsible for?

The Village is responsible for maintain­ing and repairing/replacing the septic tanks, grease traps, effluent pumps, floats, service panel, and service lines from the tank to the main sewer line. The Village is also responsible for operating the Village's Wastewater Treatment Plants.

5. Why must my tank riser lid/cover be visible?

The riser is the access to your pump and allows us to act quickly during an emergency. A hidden or inaccessible lid means that your STEP system can­not be serviced. Tank lids must remain visible and must NOT be covered by patios, decks, soil, shrubs, or mulch. Please maintain 24-inches of clearance. 

If access to components is hindered, the property owner/resident will be required to re-establish access within 48-hours of notice. If emergency access is required, the Village is not liable for any damage to items blocking access and is not required to return to prior conditions. 

6. Is my property tied into the Village sewer?

All parcels located within the Sewer Use Area are on or required to connect to the Village's STEP system. See the map.

7. How often are the septic tanks and grease traps pumped?

Grease traps and septic tanks are pumped as needed - grease traps are pumped approximately annually, septic tanks are pumped approximately every five to ten years. The Village is responsible for the pumping and routine maintenance of the tanks. The homeowner should not put cleaning additives into their tank.

8. What do I do if the power goes out?

During long term power outages of several hours or more, you should minimize water usage. Even though the STEP system’s discharge pump and alarm will not operate without power, wastewater from your home can continue to fill the tank if your water service has not been interrupted. Use only what is absolutely necessary. Check basement or lower drains often. 

If the drains begin to fill with water, discontinue all water usage and call the Village Sewer Operator immediately (845-758-1081, option 8). 

Short-term power outages of a few minutes to a few hours should not be of concern. The reserve tank capacity can handle short-term events like these. 

STEP systems are designed so that your neighbors’ drains cannot back up into yours. If you stop using water, the drains will stop filling with water. 

Note: Many types of water softeners and filters automatically discharge water into the STEP tank. This can reduce the tank’s reserve capacity without your being aware of it. Be sure to check such systems regularly.

If the power outage is longer that 24-hours call the Village Sewer Operator, 845-758-1081, option 8.