Polk County Government Florida
On the evening of April 24, Polk County Utilities Division was contacted to assist Emergency Services in the retrieval of a dog that was trapped in a wastewater cleanout pipe at the home of a Polk County resident.
A clean out is the surface access port to a homeowner’s wastewater line from the home to the public collection pipe in the right-of-way. In this case, the cap to the clean out was missing. A small dog accessed the pipe and fell 8-feet, stopping at the collection pipe below ground.
Utilities and Fire Rescue worked into the night to dig down to the collection pipe, cut it and remove the pup. A special shout-out goes to Utilities Foreman Sam Bunch and the Utilities Personnel on site: Ismael Rivera, Lamar Morris, Jodeci Jones and Dan Fatout. Thanks to their efforts, the dog was safely reunited with its owners at 12:36 a.m.
This story illustrates the importance of keeping the clean out covered and secured. An open pipe which leads directly to the wastewater collection system poses a danger to pets and wildlife.
