Wanamingo Sump Inspection Program

Updated 9/3/24

 

Received a Letter? Click Here to Schedule an Inspection.  

Have a Question? Please call (833) 509-0270


A Public Informational Meeting was held on August 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM.

The meeting discussed scheduling inspections, length of inspections, proper sump pump connections and other miscellaneous items related to the Program.

Information from the meeting is Notices section. 


Learn more about the program below.  

Who is getting an inspection?

The City of Wanamingo is implementing a mandatory sump pump inspection program to verify that clear water from a sump pump, seepage system, or roof drain is not connected to the sanitary sewer.  All properties in the City will be required to undergo inspection, regardless of whether a sump pump or basement is present.

 

Why is this important?

Like many cities in Minnesota, Wanamingo faces challenges with its sanitary sewer collection system. During significant rainfall events, the system is overloaded by excess groundwater and rainwater (clear water). When it rains, flows can increase to eight times the normal rate. Overloaded sewers lead to basement backups, and in extreme cases, require bypassing flow directly to the river. This causes damage to homes, personal property, health concerns, and environmental issues.

Excess clear water enters the system from cracks in sewer mains and manholes, and from private sources such as sump pumps, seepage collection systems, defective service laterals, and roof drains. National studies have shown that the distribution of public and private clear water sources is approximately 50/50. Removing private sources of clear water is essential to solving the problem.

A major source of private clear water in the sanitary sewer system is sump pumps. A sump pump removes groundwater from around a home’s foundation. The proper place for a sump pump to discharge is to the exterior of the home or storm sub-drain if available. The improper place for it to discharge is into a floor drain or tub sink, which connect to the sanitary sewer. A single sump pump discharges between 20 to 100 gallons per minute (gpm).  It only takes a few improperly plumbed sump pumps to overload a neighborhood sewer main that has a typical capacity of 400 gpm.

What should I do?

The City needs your help to remove clear water from the system. Check to make sure your sump pumps, seepage collection systems, and roof drains discharge onto the ground or into a storm sub-drain if available.

When invited, please schedule an inspection appointment to verify that no clear water connections are present. The City's Ordinance No. 207 prohibits clear water connections into the sanitary sewer. The Ordinance authorizes mandatory sump pump inspections to verify that buildings do not have clear water connections, and the application of 'clear water' surcharges onto sewer bills for buildings that have not been inspected and passed.

It’s also the neighborly thing to do to make sure your sump pump isn’t discharging into the sanitary sewer because your pumpage may end up in someone’s basement as overflow.  

What is an inspection?

The City of Wanamingo is starting mandatory sump pump inspections to verify that clear water from a sump pump, seepage system or roof drain connected to the sanitary sewer is not present.  Additionally, the City is inventorying the water service material at all properties; see below for details. 

To do this, inspectors need access to your property and basement to observe exterior grading, roof drains, sump pit/pump, and seepage collection system, if present. A typical inspection is completed in under 15 minutes.

For fairness to residents, all buildings with a sewer account will be inspected, regardless of whether a basement or sump pump is present. 

There will be no fees for these inspections.

A adult must be present during the inspection. 

Property owners have the option to hire a private plumber to complete their inspection, in which case the plumber's fees would be at the property owner's expense.

What’s the next step?

You will be notified by mail to schedule an inspection.  If you have received a letter, click Schedule Inspection. 

Check out the links the links above for more information about the program and contact information. 

What is the water service inventory?

The City will also be inventorying the water service materials as part of the new requirements from the revised Lead and Copper Rule by the EPA. The revised rules mandates cities to inventory water service materials.  The water service line is the pipe that connects the water main (typically in the street) to the water meter inside the building. Property owners will be notified if a lead service line is found on their property. 
 
Refer to the  notices  section for more information on the revised Lead and Copper Rule.