06-07-2004 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT B IS YOUR SUMP PUMP COSTING YOU MONEY? For Minnesota property owners, sump pumps can be a basement’s best friend during March through October rains, but where the water goes after the pump collects it can be a costly problem. If your sump pump is misdirected to discharge into Mounds View’s sanitary sewer system, this is called a “cross connection”, and it results in higher charges for disposal and treatment of sewage. WASTEWATER AND CLEAR WATER From early spring and throughout the summer, the sanitary sewer system handles one to two times its normal volume of water. The problem is that the additional volume, mostly from sump pumps, is not the wastewater intended for the system - it’s clear water. Wastewater is any water goes down any drain inside a residence or structure from showers, sinks, tubs, toilets, washing machines, etc. Wastewater needs to go through the wastewater facility for treatment before it is released into the environment. Wastewater from Mounds View travels through the City’s sanitary sewer system and goes to the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant in St. Paul. Wastewater treatment is provided through the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Division (MCES). Utility customers pay a rate each billing period to cover costs for disposal and treatment of sewage. Clear water does NOT have to be treated before it’s returned to area lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. To get clear water back into the natural water system, it should be directed into the storm sewer system or onto the ground where it can be absorbed. Clear water is rainwater, ground water, or snow melt which is exactly the type of water a sump pump handles. When this water is directed into the sanitary sewer system, utility customers pay for the increased flow and treatment of what is essentially already clean water. HOW TO AVOID THE PROBLEM Sump pump systems are designed to capture surface or ground water that enters basements or crawl spaces and pump it away from the house. If the hose from your sump pump leads to a laundry tub or a floor drain, it is emptying into the sanitary sewer system and costing Mounds View residents more in sewer treatment costs. An overloaded sanitary sewer system can also potentially cause back-ups, which can flood basements and defeat the purpose of the sump pump. Sump pump discharges need to be directed to the storm water system via one of two methods:  A direct connection (a pipe from the house to the main storm sewer line), if available  Directly onto the ground (preferably 20 feet from the house and not into a neighbor’s yard) City Solution To ensure every property is discharging clear water from sump pumps, rainspouts, etc. correctly, the City of Mounds View is considering enacting a citywide inspection program later this year. If enacted, City employees will be going door to door to inspect the plumbing and rain gutters of all properties in Mounds View. For more information regarding sump pump discharge in Mounds View, contact Tim Pittman, Public Works Supervisor at 763-717-4053 or at www.tim.pittman@ci.mounds-view.mn.us. Sewer Costs are Rising and You can help Slow them down! Problem: Large amounts of ground and storm water are infiltrating into the Mounds View sanitary system causing disposal costs to skyrocket. Solution: Discharge ALL sump pump water and roof drains properly – not in to the sanitary sewer. Benefit: Control sewage disposal costs. Reduce the chance of sewer system overload and the chance of sewer backups in to basements.