Easement Clearing

The City-County Utility Commission is in the second year of a multi-year project to clear overgrown sewer easements in Kernersville and Winston-Salem. 

Clearing the easements will ensure that Utilities crews can quickly access the sewer line in the event of a sewer backflow or line break. Clearing the easements will also reduce the likelihood of damage to the sewer line by tree roots.

The contract calls for ensuring that the easements are cleared for their full 20-foot width. No work will be done on those portions of easements only covered with grass and weeds. If there are vines, briars, and trees, the entire 20-foot easement will be cleared. In some cases, clearing the easement will necessitate the removal of large trees. Brush, vines, small trees, and limbs will be mulched and left on the easements. Larger trees will be cut up and removed.

Once trees and vines are cut, they can quickly sprout from stumps and roots. To keep from having to clear easements of heavy wooden growth every two to three years, a herbicide will be sprayed to control growth. The herbicide is environmentally safe and poses no harmful effects to animals or grasses.

Crews will access the easements from public roads and work their way down the length of the easement, crossing private property as necessary to clear the easement. Crews may work during daylight hours only.

Fliers will be placed on the doors of all residents along easements included in the project about five days before work begins.

The Utility Commision expects to issue similar contracts over the next two years to continue clearing overgrown easements. In all, some 86 miles of easements will be cleared. Once cleared, Utilities will maintain the easements by mowing them every two to three years. 

 Frequently Asked Questions about the sewer easement clearing