Sump Pumps

Sump pump systems are designed to capture surface or ground water that enters basements or crawl spaces and pump it away from the house. The basic sump system includes drain tile, a sump pit, a sump pump, a float or switch, and a drain line. The sump pit extends below the slab and collects surface water that enters the basement/crawl space or groundwater that rises to the slab.

Homeowners commonly use sump pumps in their basements to battle moisture and flooding issues. However, water from sump pumps should NOT be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. That’s called a cross connection, and it results in higher sewer charges.

The Problem With Cross Connections

When a sump pump is connected to a sanitary sewer line it is called a cross connection. Often, this is a hose leading from the sump to a laundry tub or a floor drain. As you may know, water that goes down any drain in your house leads to the sanitary sewer system and eventually ends up at a wastewater treatment plant, where it is treated before being released back into the environment.

Why You Should Care

It comes down to paying to treat water that doesn’t need it.Sump pump water is what engineers call "clear water," most often rain water, ground water, or snow melt. This water flows directly into area streams, ponds, and lakes. Water from sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, and washing machines is wastewater and must be treated before it is discharged into the environment.Clear water, such as that from a sump pump, overloads the sanitary sewer system. During the rainy season (March through October), this clear water increases the flow through Golden Valley’s sanitary sewer system one to two times the usual amount, primarily because of cross connections. Since sanitary sewer rates are based on the number of gallons that flow through the City sanitary sewer collection system and into the MCES water treatment system, treating clear water is costly.

Redirecting Your Sump Pump Connection

Sump pumps should drain into the City’s storm sewer system through 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)

The illustration below depicts a proper sump pump connection.

Where Storm Water Goes

As rain, melting snow, and other precipitation runs off streets, roofs, parking lots, lawns, driveways, and other surfaces, it is directed to the storm water system through storm drains in and under the gutters (catch basins) of the street system.

Storm water pipes are closer to the surface than sanitary sewer or water pipes because the water they handle is continually flowing downhill to the nearest outlet (ie, a lake, river, creek, pond, or wetland).

Water going through storm water catch basins in the street is not treated before it is returned to the environment. However, devices such as storm water ponds help filter out sediment and pollutants before the water reaches natural waterways.

Wastewater

Wastewater from Golden Valley travels through the City’s sanitary sewer system and goes to the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant, located on the Mississippi River in St Paul. Wastewater treatment is provided by the Metropolitan Council through the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Division (MCES). The Metro Plant is the largest wastewater treatment facility in Minnesota, processing about 300 million gallons of wastewater every day from 104 communities and 800 industries.

Wastewater treatment is a key service for residential, commercial, and industrial development and an important defense in protecting the public health.

If you have questions about this ordinance, contact Public Works at 763-593-8030.