Public works duo praised for breakthrough work on sewer lines
David Basey (right) and Emanuel Manzano of the Public Works & Engineering Department look over their truck's high pressure unit. The unit helps them clear sewer lines, whiletheir personilities help them soothe angry citizens. For Houstoninans frustrated by sewage problems, the two-man team performs nothing short of miracles.

By Paul Beckman

f David Basey and Emanuel Manzano go a week without getting a sound tongue-lashing, they consider themselves fortunate. Sometimes they receive several in one day.

They don’t cause trouble. But when something goes wrong with sewer lines, their faces are the first ones the public sees. The two-man team from the Public Works & Engineering Department clears stopped-up lines, but they also end up as sounding boards for Houstonians frustrated by ongoing sewage problems.

Assigned to Houston’s high-end areas, River Oaks, Tanglewood and Memorial, Basey and Manzano said some angry residents like to remind them how much they pay in city taxes.

“They are very upset when we arrive,” Basey said. “I try to talk to them to the best of my ability. After being in this business for 30 years, I try.”

The two men usually succeed. Through their work and soothing personalities, Basey and Manzano assure people that clear sewer lines aren’t a pipe dream. It doesn’t take long for the pair to whittle harsh words into smooth apologies and praise.

“(Basey and Manzano) were very patient and courteous in a time when people lack tolerance and concern,” said Otis Wiley, owner of a mortuary. “They did exactly what they were supposed to do.”

Before calling the city, people hope to get a quick and permanent solution to their sewage woes by contacting a plumber. Instead, Basey said they often end up stuck with an unresolved problem and expensive plumbing bills.

“The service company plumber warned me the city would not be responsive,” wrote Hazel Cross, a Houston resident disgusted by sewage problems. “I was ready to go to battle with the city to have my lines cleared.”

But with Basey and Manzano on the scene, she realized that calling the city should have been her first move.

“I was in complete shock,” Cross said. “I was really ready to get ‘push back’ and what I got was excellent service. While I hope to not have any more problems in the future, if I do, I hope it’s Mr. Basey and Mr. Manzano that come to the rescue.”

Basey explained that the equipment the city uses is more powerful than what most plumbers use to clear sewer lines.

“We blow it out with a high pressure unit,” Basey said. “We have a newer version of the truck. So if the little unit doesn’t get it, the big one will.”

Basey and Manzano caught resident Don Brown by surprise when they removed what he considered a mountain of a problem.

“They responded in a timely manner and were courteous and very professional,” Brown wrote. “Even though it was a difficult situation, they refused to quit until the sewer line was clear.”

Basey and Manzano aren’t customer service gurus, nor do they spend time theorizing about what approach should be taken to handle a situation. Instead, they work according to a simple formula.

“When I leave, if they’re not happy, I’m not happy,” Basey said.

The attitude also makes Mayor Lee P. Brown happy.

“When toilets back up, it’s very easy for tensions to boil over. Houstonians faced with sewer problems often offer employees like David Basey and Emanuel Manzano very little margin for error,” Brown said. “This pair’s ability to not only fix the sewage problems but soothe frustrations day after day is a continuing source of pride for the city. Their abilities and people skills rarely receive the attention they deserve.”