The Sewer Backup Prevention Program involves modifications to the properties’ internal plumbing. Several modifications to a home’s internal plumbing configuration are available.

Normally, all plumbing in a home drains to the lowest spot in a house below the basement floor. When a public sewer is overcharged, flow comes out the basement floor drain instead of water going into it. One option: instead of all the wastewater in the house draining through the basement sewer, the plumbing can be modified with a new sewer, located just below the first floor (“strapped plumbing”). Basement floor drains would be disconnected from the overcharged sewer, giving more storage in the sewer line and preventing backups.

For structures with a number of plumbing fixtures in the basement, like a drain for the washing machine or another bathroom, basement pipes are redirected to one low spot where a wet well and pump are installed. This allows for interior or exterior installation, depending on the existing plumbing configuration. Wastewater from the entire house drains to the wet well where the pump forces the flow back into the plumbing and out of the home.

This program is only available to homeowners who have basements in areas where only one or two homes on a block experience problems. If an area experiences more extensive or widespread flooding, a more traditional project, such as installing a new sewer line, may be the only solution to the problem. The District would pay all costs related to this work. MSD will prioritize homes for this type of solution based on past flooding history and the willingness of the property owner to have the work performed.

• Recycle newspapers, glass, plastic bags and other materials to reduce waste. Recycling helps keeps trash from being washed into the sewer system, possibly resulting in a blockage.
• Recycle yard waste or use it to make compost. Raking leaves and grass into streets allows yard waste to wash into storm sewers, causing blockages and possible street flooding.
• Trash around storm water drains should be removed. If the street requires cleaning, the city or municipality responsible for maintaining them should be contacted.
• Properly dispose of yard waste (grass clippings and leaves) to avoid it from traveling to storm drains and causing backup.
• Oil, grease, paint, or any hazardous chemicals should never be placed in sanitary drain and/or washed into inlets or other sewer structures.
• Sump pumps, drain tile, downspouts, yard or driveway drains should never be piped to sanitary sewer lines.
  • A sump pump is a small pump installed in basements or low areas. When water reaches a certain depth in the sump, a float will rise to turn on the pump.
  • A drain tile is a pipe that is typically perforated and installed around the perimeter of the basement floor. Groundwater flows into the drain tile, which is connected to the sump pump.
  • A downspout is the vertical rectangular tube attach to the roof gutter allowing rainwater to flow down.
• Swales or detention areas should never be graded, filled in or built over since storm water flow can be affected.
  • Swales are graded low areas in yards to control and direct the flow of storm water to inlets, creeks, etc.
• Pools, buildings, decks, etc. should never be built over storm or sanitary sewers easements. If unavoidable, the homeowner should contact MSD and request an encroachment. Structures should not be built prior to MSD authorizing the encroachment.

For more information, contact MSD's Customer Service at (314) 768-6260, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An MSD Maintenance Employee will investigate your request.