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Frequently Asked Questions
City Sewer Systems - General
Why does my basement flood due to Sewer Backup?
The sewer system serving your home is set up to handle sewage. It can take about
1 gallon per minute of sewage from each house without flooding. The sewer system
is not set up to handle rain. Rain can enter the sewer at a rate of 11 times
the flow rate of sewage. The rainwater combines with the sewage and floods the
sewer.
How can rainwater enter the sewer?
One way is through the footing drain around your basement. If you don't have a sump pump, the rainwater probably flows into the sanitary sewer.
How much water can enter through a footing drain during a downpour?
The water flowing into the sewer through a footing drain can be 11 times the peak flow of sewage from a home or more. If the ground surrounding the home is impervious clay and slopes away from the house, the flow could be very low.
What happens when a storm sewer system floods during extreme conditions?
The roads, ditches, and backyard swales temporarily flood. Eventually, the water
level subsides. Basements are often not affected.
What kind of extreme conditions can flood a sewer system that receives storm water?
Typical examples of extreme conditions occur if there is a heavy rain when:
1. The ground is frozen.
2. There is a heavy snow accumulation on the ground and/or
3. The ground is saturated with water.
Is there anything the city can do to protect my basement from flooding
during these extreme conditions?
It may be beyond the city's means to protect your basement during these extreme
conditions. For instance, they cannot correct problems with the sewer pipe on
your property.
Is there anything I can do to protect my basement from flooding during these
extreme conditions?
Install an electric sump pump and a sewage ejector pump. Other protective means
include a check valve, a gate valve, and a back-up battery-operated sump pump.
Why can't the City do anything about it?
The solution to the problem is in your basement plumbing. The homeowner is responsible
for the sewer lead from the property line into the house. The City's authority
and responsibility ends at the property line. The City is responsible for the
sewer pipe under the street.
Can't a sewer system be designed to handle these extreme conditions?
It is not economically feasible to design a sewer system to handle these extreme conditions.
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