Sioux Falls water restoration is our specialty, although we aren’t quite as busy during the winter as we are in the spring.
But you might find yourself in a situation where you need to run your sump pump in winter. If you live in Sioux Falls, that’s not quite as easy as it sounds. Water discharged from your sump pump during the winter should be sent to the sanitary sewer, which requires a permit.
Permit Required for Sump Pump in Winter
The City of Sioux Falls will potentially grant you a permit to run your sump pump to the sanitary sewer between November 15 and April 1, according to Kerry Ellis, a civil engineer in the city engineering drainage department.
You can get a permit if there aren’t too many residents already pumping into the sewer on the same block, said Ellis. If you are interested in applying for a permit, contact the city engineering office at 605-367-8601.
“We don’t want to have an entire block pumping into the sewer at the same time,” he said.
The Permit Process
The city will send you two letters; one letter authorizing you to have your plumber set up the sump pump/sewer connection and another letter authorizing you to go ahead with the discharge. After the first letter, the city will send an inspector to check out the plumbing work to make sure it looks OK.
Technically, you can use your sump pump to discharge water onto the ground surface outside your house as you would in the spring, but be wary of the following City of Sioux Falls ordinance:
“No sump pump discharge to the ground surface shall create a hazard or a nuisance, including but not be limited to: ice accumulation on city streets, alleys, and sidewalks; damaging a city street or sidewalk; creating ponds of standing water or algae; or flowing over adjoining property.”
Sioux Falls Water Restoration Caused by Neighbors
Ellis said the city occasionally receives phone calls from residents whose neighbors are pumping water during the winter and icing over adjacent driveways or sidewalks. The offending resident will receive a warning and perhaps further consequences if the pumping continues.
Sioux Falls water restoration is no fun and can be even more frustrating if caused by your neighbors.
You might need to run your sump pump in the winter, however, if your pipes freeze, you have ice in your gutters or experience other unexpected issues. If you do, your best bet is to apply for a permit to pump to the sewer.
Contact INTEK for Sioux Falls Water Restoration
INTEK is available for Sioux Falls water restoration at any time of year. Call us at 605-332-3006.
