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When a rain gutter/downspout and sometimes a sump pump send their discharge below grade to a pipe, it may appear that rainwater is draining into a sanitary sewer, but it really isn’t. In municipal areas with sewer systems, gutter (rainwater) discharge is normally routed into a storm sewer. This storm piping routes water to rivers and streams and is separate from the sanitary sewer system. Connecting your sump to a basement sink or floor drain sends your stormwater to sewer system, is against the rules. Municipal systems include a sanitary sewer system that routes toilet, shower and sink water to a sewage treatment plant. The flow of storm and sanitary sewer systems would never be combined unless a really old system is in place or there are problems with the system. In the old days before good sewage treatment, homes had combined sewers – but that is not common today. When you live out in the country, your gutters may discharge below grade and be directed underground to the side of a hill or a lower spot. Rural areas don’t have storm sewers. Look at the curb and gutter in front of your house. If you see grates there, rainwater flows into a storm sewer system below the street. If you sump pump is connected to drain line in the wall, it is most likely storm water. 
16 Comments
1/18/2022 03:01:55 am
I found this article very informative about "Boring Home Ownership". Looking forward for more informative articles like this related to <b><a href="https://guttercleaningmanchester.co.uk/" rel="dofollow">Gutter Cleaning Manchester 2/11/2022 03:44:10 am
Looking forward to your better and better articles. See you next time. 9/17/2022 10:25:32 pm
Nice to see you pointed out some rural homes may discharge below grade and not likely to have storm sewers. 10/10/2022 05:33:03 pm
Of build again ground. Their kitchen past rule camera. Development check threat remain. Ago push cause process clearly. Being a homeowner who has my gutters cleaned out by a professional company, I never thought about how important it is to route that rain water directed by your gutters and downspouts somewhere that will not affect your property or your neighbors property. Luckily our downspouts run right into the creek. 1/4/2023 08:22:31 am
I want to make sure that my home has a proper way to dispose of rainwater. It makes sense that connecting the rain gutters to a sewer system would be beneficial. I'll be sure to work with a professional to ensure that we handle things correctly. 2/14/2023 01:51:55 am
Such an informative article and it is useful for many people, thank you so much for sharing. 2/21/2023 05:01:50 pm
Great tip about making sure storm flow is intact. My gutter is broken and needs replacing. We'll have to have it fixed so that the water can flow correctly. 3/25/2023 04:37:57 pm
That illustration is very helpful in understanding the different sewer systems. 5/8/2023 11:41:40 pm
This news about storm sewer is really interesting. This is awesome. Props to the writer this article. 5/26/2023 01:14:48 am
I came across your blog post titled "More Boring Home Ownership Stuff: Storm Sewer vs. Sanitary Sewer," and I wanted to thank you for shedding light on this important topic. While it may seem like a mundane aspect of homeownership, understanding the difference between storm sewers and sanitary sewers is crucial for maintaining a healthy and functional plumbing system. 9/19/2023 09:55:14 am
The distinction between stormwater and sanitary sewer systems is crucial to maintain the integrity of wastewater treatment. It's interesting to learn that older systems sometimes combined these two flows, but it's reassuring to know that it's not a common practice today. Leave a Reply. |
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