Sump Pump Use Survey is Ongoing, Community Forum Planned

The borough’s investigation into the illegal use of sump pumps is still ongoing.

Borough officials say a survey is currently being  done and a discussion forum is in the works.  

The borough began this investigation about two months ago after determining that the improper, or illegal, use of sump pump dumping into the sanitary sewer system is the cause of sewer backup which flooded several homes in town during the August hurricane and also during other severe rain storms.

Many homeowners may not be aware they have an illegal connection therefore the borough is asking them to check their connections so the problem can be eliminated. 

Illegal use means the sump pump is draining directly into a sink or toilet in a homeowner’s basement. This can overflow the borough’s sanitary sewer system causing back up in neighbors’ homes, officials have said. The proper way to discharge a sump pump is to connect it to a hose that dumps out onto one’s property.

The in mid-September stating that inspections will be done and homeowners have 60 days to correct the sump pump connection if it is found to be illegal.

Now the borough is asking residents to fill out a six-question survey on sump pump use and connection as part of its investigation. As of last week Mayor Rose Heck said about 85 surveys have been returned. The questionnaire can be found on the back page of the Borough Business Bulletin, a 20-page newspaper, the borough publishes once a year. Residents are asked to return the questionnaire to the Tax Office located at Borough Hall.

The community forum which would address the sump pump issue and some other matters most likely will be planned for some time in December, the mayor said.