Officials Begin Taking Strict Steps Against Illegal Sump Pump Use

The borough is taking steps to strictly enforce the law against illegal connections of sump pumps or drainage systems to the borough’s sanitary sewerage system which officials say is what caused many homes to experience sewer backups in their basement following the hurricane.  

Mayor and council have now issued a notice asking all homeowners to check their connections to see if they have an improper and therefore illegal connection of sump pumps or drainage systems in order to prevent others from dealing with "potentially serious health hazards that come from the discharge of sewage containing urine and feces in their basements."

The notice states, “Each and every residence will have to be checked so that the people adversely impacted can be safe from the threat of sewage coming from other homes into their homes and making those homes unlivable for their children, their parents, pets and themselves.” Homeowners will be given 60 days to disconnect illegal discharge connections.

The proper way to discharge sump pumps is to connect them to a hose that runs outside the home on to the property or in the case of extreme rainfall such as the hurricane discharge into the street is allowed by way of the driveway or  connection to roof drains, the notice explains.  

In some cases homeowners may not be aware they are discharging into the system as some may have sump pumps or French drains which may have been improperly installed, even if they were put in by professionals, the statement reads.

who asked what can be done to prevent their basements from being filled with sewerage following future storm events. Many complained this was ongoing occurrence. One homeowner stated he has had this happen to him 14 times in the past year alone.

Residents heard from Borough Engineer Kenneth Job who explained how the sewerage system overflows due to being overloaded by homes dumping storm water into the system. As the notice states “engineering tests and surveys show the system is adequate when used properly but no sanitary sewer can withstand the discharge of storm water from basements.”

Information on the installation or modification of sump pumps and French drain systems can be obtained from the Hasbrouck Heights Construction Code Department by calling 201-288-2143.