I am hopeful your household did not get either storm or sewer water in your basements the last couple weeks. These are very unfortunate circumstances that create huge inconveniences for families and homeowners.
When a basement floods either due to a leaky foundation or, the sanitary sewer, the city is generally the first to get a call. And, while our staff does it’s best to minimize the problem, often times the only cure is to let the water flow out of the system and then out of the basement.
Sewer backups occur when too much water enters sewer mains during rainfalls. Basements back up because they represent the “line of least resistance” to let the water release from pressure in the mains. Backups occur most often in lower areas, or, where sewer lines are fairly flat and do not let water flow as easily as if there was more grade.
Indianola has over 80 miles of sewer mains, some are 70-80 years old and some are 20-25 foot deep. It is nearly impossible to keep storm water out of the sewer system especially when the ground is so saturated like it is this year. It can get there through manhole covers on flooded streets, cracks or misaligned mains, and storm sewers that are connected to sanitary sewers. The mains even collect storm water from homes and buildings that are illegally connected to the sanitary sewer. Yes, it is possible backups occur from your own neighborhood’s illegal connections.
At this time Indianola is taking aggressive action to keep storm water out of sanitary sewers. Our engineers estimate the city will spend $7 to $9 million testing, repairing and replacing parts of the system where storm water enters. However, it is a 3 to 4 year process.
Our plan is to begin repairs/replacements in areas that have the most backups and that will probably happen within a year or so. Until that time, backups may occur again, especially when we receive 4-inch rains as we did on July 27 and July 8. Mother Nature has certainly not been kind to Iowa in this regard this year.
In addition as part of our normal operation every attempt is made to prevent backups in the public wastewater system before they occur. Sewer lines are engineered to prevent accumulation and stoppages. Maintenance crews inspect and clean lines throughout the city on a regular schedule. However, widespread backups we’ve been experiencing lately are often beyond the city’s control.
It is therefore best if property owners have insurance covering floods and sewer backups. In the majority of cases, a special rider will need to be added to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to cover damages related to sewage backups or water damage. This optional coverage is usually not very expensive, but you must request that it be added to your policy. Check with your agent about this policy provision.
The city, of course, has insurance and when claims are received they are forwarded to our insurance representatives. The issue of fault (as always) rests on negligence. Has the city been negligent? Insurance representatives review the claims and thus far have denied coverage because backups occurred during very heavy rains. And, heavy rains are considered an act of nature that caused the problem. Under normal situations the sewer system performs just as it was designed.
