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SUMP PUMPS 101: IMPORTANT INFORMATION It's the time of year when sump pumps are active, and yards become soggy with spring and summer rains. Sump pumps typically pump water from a sump pit in your basement. The water that enters the sump pit has typically collected by soaking through the ground and into your footing drains. This system helps to keep your basement dry, particularly during times of high ground water conditions. This discharge should never be routed into your sanitary service leaving your house. Per the City's Municipal Code, sump pumps shall discharge a minimum of 3 feet from your foundation wall, as well as a minimum of 3 feet from property lines. The purpose of this is to get the water away from the foundation wall, but keep it from discharging directly onto your neighbor's property. This gives the discharge an opportunity to soak into the ground and recharge the natural groundwater table away from your foundation. Typically, storm sewers are not designed to accommodate sump pump drainage, so direct connections of sump pumps to storm sewers are not allowed. Several options exist for rerouting sump pump drainage and alleviating wet areas in your yard. Any burial of sump pump drainage lines requires a permit in order to ensure that the work being done will not adversely affect the drainage of your neighborhood. Please contact the Community Development Department for more information at (630) 293-2200 X 131.