It's no secret that we've been hit hard by heavy rains throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa this summer. In Lincoln, things have been so wet that the city's 110-year-old rainfall record was surpassed in May, with nearly 11 inches of precipitation.
With so much water in such a short period of time, flooding from groundwater and the overwhelming of municipal water systems is almost inevitable. But recently the city of Lincoln reexamined code requirements for sump pumps and other drainage systems in hopes of relieving strain on the overall storm and wastewater system.
At Thrasher, we make a point of keeping all of our sales and installation teams up-to-date on code requirements for all areas we serve. While improperly routed sump pump drainage was likely a minor issue for the city given the sheer amount of rain, poorly routed systems are more likely to cause issues for individual homeowners.
"When it comes to sump systems being incorrectly routed into wastewater systems, the main concern for homeowners is raw sewage," said Thrasher's president, Dan Thrasher. "When the city's systems are backed up, there's nowhere else for that wastewater to go other than back into a home sump system."
The easiest way to ensure that your chosen installer abides by code is to ask. Reputable waterproofing and basement repair companies will be able to design a system that works for your custom requirements while still abiding by federal, state and local code. More ambitious homeowners can also often find rough outlines of code requirements in their area through internet research.
According to Thrasher, the best protection you have is to do research on your chosen company's track record and ask questions.
"Never feel bad about asking for credentials and proof of work from any contractor," Thrasher said. "If they refuse or push back on your request that should the first signal that you may want to explore other options."
For questions about waterproofing and sump pump systems in your home, call Thrasher today at 800.827.0702 or visit GoThrasher.com for more information.