Those pipes are air intake mechanisms that are part of the vacuum component needed for the sewer system, said Troy Davis, sewer project director for the town of Oak Island.

Only homes that are in the flood area will be equipped with that type of vacuum. That generally means homes in the first, second and third rows away from the water.

Most homes have some type of vacuum as part of their sewer system, Davis said. In some areas, one ground-mounted vacuum can serve several homes.

The “candy cane” type of vacuum you see on the waterfront Oak Island homes is needed to raise the system above the potential water level to keep water from intruding into the system in a flood, Davis said.

Date posted: August 23, 2010

User-contributed question by:
Nan Bush