Disconnect your sump pump from the sewer
Disconnect your sump pump from the sanitary sewer system. An urgent message from our Public Works Department: You can help reduce backup risk for yourself, your neighbors, and the city by making sure that your sump pumps are NOT discharging into the sanitary sewer system.
One average residential sump pump can pump 25 gallons a minute, which is 36,000 gallons a day. Disconnect it now from your sanitary sewer and run it into the yard or storm sewer. Same goes for roof drains.
You can help reduce this risk for yourself and your neighbors by ensuring your sump pumps and roof drains are NOT discharging into the sanitary sewer system.
See also this excerpt from City Code 95.04:
No person shall do, or allow, any of the following:
- Surface Run-Off or Groundwater. Connect a roof downspout, sump pump, exterior foundation drain, areaway drain, or other source of surface run-off or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain that is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.
Also you’ll want to talk to your insurance agent to verify your sewer backup coverage. On a related note, ask your insurance agent about insurance for water and sewer line breaks (doesn’t guarantee coverage regarding a back-up). Re the lines themselves, the City is also a partner of HomeServe USA which is recommended by the National League of Cities as an option.
