Sewer Maintenance

West Des Moines manages two separate underground systems—Sanitary and Stormwater—to keep our community clean and protect our local environment.

A diagram showing how the separate sanitary and stormwater systems connect to a home. The sanitary line carries indoor drain water to a treatment plant, while the storm sewer carries outdoor rainwater to local streams.

Sanitary Sewer System

The sanitary sewer collects "dirty" water from your indoor drains and toilets. This water is sent to a treatment plant to be cleaned before it is released back into the environment.

Annual Cleaning and Maintenance

To prevent backups and leaks, City staff clean and inspect sewer pipes every year from spring through late summer. You can view the Map of This Year's Sewer Cleaning Areas to see when we will be in your neighborhood.

Learn More About Sanitary Sewers

Stormwater Sewer System

The stormwater system collects rainwater and melted snow from our streets and sidewalks. This system helps prevent flooding by carrying water directly to local streams and lakes.

Stormwater Resources