Sewage Happens

The next hurdle before digging the foundation was changing the water meter. A few weeks earlier. the plumber wanted to test one of the water lines in the basement, and to do that he had to shut off the main valve which was connected to the water meter in the basement. While turning the valve the meter broke, the water company was notified and told us that a new meter would have to be installed outside by the front curb - the new technology. Without the meter, the plumber couldn't turn off the water to plumb, and the contractor had spent the past week and a half trying to schedule this work with the water company. Finally, on the day of the gas line, he was told they'd be there the next day - promised, in fact.

The next day of course the water company fails to show up. More irate calls later, and they do the job on Saturday.

Monday June 1. The excavator arrives early in the morning (I'm going in late again) and starts gingerly digging around the side of the house. Like stepping on a frozen lake with one toe so you don't fall through. Sure enough, the sewer line cuts across the target area. But fortunately, the line was about 15 feet away from the house with only a small angled corner that needs to be diverted. A frantic call to the plumber and we're told the line should be relocated by the end of the day. I call Shaw to let him know there's a chance we may need to stay in a hotel that night if the job isn't finished, to which he replies that we can always use the porta-potty if necessary. What about showering in the morning? I ask. What does a shower have to do with a sewer line, he wants to know. I just hope for the best.

Anyway, the work is done that afternoon, so now the gas line, water main, sewer and sprinkler valves have all been relocated away from the digging site. Eventually we'll also have to move the power line, phone and cable wires too. We'd been wondering why no other house in our neighborhood has built an addition on the side where ours is going. Now we know - turns out all of our neighbors are sane.