End of Temporary Sump Pump Variance: Local Residents Must Redirect Discharge from Today

The temporary period allowing sump pumps to discharge clear water into the sanitary sewer ended today, April 1, 2024. From this point forward, sump pump water should be directed away from the sanitary sewer to an appropriate location such as a yard, street curb, or gutter. It's important to note that discharging sump pump water into the sanitary sewer is not allowed and could result in penalties, including a fine and possible jail time.

The goal of this rule is to preserve sanitary sewer capacity, which is essential for protecting homes and the environment from sewage discharge. Sump pump flows can significantly impact the sewer system. For instance, a 1/3 HP sump pump running 15 minutes per hour over a 24-hour period can discharge about 10,800 gallons per day. If 100 sump pumps operate under these conditions, it could add an extra 1,080,000 gallons per day to the system.

The wastewater facility is designed to handle an average flow of 4,000,000 gallons per day. Treating clean sump pump water is as expensive as treating polluted wastewater. Increased flows from clean sump pump water can raise operational costs at the wastewater facility, which could result in higher sewer rates. Additionally, excessive sump pump discharges into the sanitary sewer could cause sewage to back up into basements.

A simple way to manage water and reduce the amount pumped by your sump pump is to install gutters and downspouts. Make sure their extensions are long enough to divert water away from the foundation. Discharging unpolluted water or sump pump discharges into the sanitary sewer outside of the temporary seasonal variance period, or without a written variance during this period, could result in penalties.

We appreciate the public's cooperation in diverting sump pumps away from the sanitary sewer system. If you have any questions, please contact the Wastewater Facility at (605) 882 - 6244.

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