Actions for Flood Resilient Homes: Sewage Ejector Pump

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Actions for Flood Resilient Homes: Sewage Ejector Pump What is a sewage ejector pump? Who needs a Sewage Ejector Pump? A sewage ejector pump is used when plumbing fixtures You’ll need an ejector pump if you have plumbing fixtures at a in your home are located below the main sewer line (e.g., lower level than the municipal sewer line. basement bathrooms or laundry rooms). It is designed to A permit is/is not required elevate wastewater so it can move up and out of your home to the sewer. Before flood action During flood action After flood action How does a sewage ejector pump Other considerations work? • A standard ejector pump kit with a ½- to ¾-horsepower A sewage ejector pump is required when a motor and a 30- or 40-gallon tank is normally big enough for an home’s wastewater discharge pipe is elevated average residential installation. above plumbing fixtures. The advantage • You may opt to install a backup pump to guard against failure. of having an elevated discharge pipe is that You can also consider buying a pump that sounds an alarm sewage in the city sanitary pipes is less likely to when the pump fails. flow into the home by gravity. This approach is similar to the use of a backflow prevention • Ejector pumps generally last several years if well maintained. valve. You should schedule a plumber for annual service (cleaning the pump, oiling the motor, inspecting the float and condition of the Like a sump pump, an ejector pump sits in pump, removing debris lodged in the tank). a sump basin in your floor. But, instead of collecting rainwater from drain tile around • If your pump struggles to start, is constantly cycling, or makes your home’s foundation, the basin collects strange sounds, it may be near failure. wastewater from drain lines connected to the plumbing fixtures in your basement. When COST: $400-$1,000 for a kit1 (not including installation) the level of wastewater in the basin reaches a certain height, a moveable float starts the Reduces exposure Reduces vulnerability ejector pump, which moves the wastewater up to the sewer line. When the water level in the basin recedes, the float drops back down and the pump turns off. Ejector pumps that handle wastewater from your bathroom require a sealed lid on the Vent to Roof basin and a vent for sewer gases. A check valve between the pump outlet point and the junction with the main sewer line ensures that nothing drains back into the basin after the wastewater is pumped out. A failed ejector Washtub Gravity Drain pump will likely result in less flooding than a (must lift connection failed sump pump because the only source above gravity drain) of water is wastewater from the home itself; however, the presence of untreated sewage can create a health hazard. Ejector Pump (capable of handling solid waste) For more information on flood resilience, contact the Engineering Department at 952-826-0371. 1Estimate from www.thespruce.com. .

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