Overview

The Water Department addresses the adverse effects associate with basement flooding by:

• inspecting sewers in flood prone areas for obstructions and scheduling appropriate maintenance or capital projects accordingly
• collecting and updating data on properties that have been flooded
• modeling sewer system hydrology to understand how it handles storm events
• coordinating with other government agencies to more effectively manage stormwater
• initiating a Basement Back-up Protection Program

Program History

Beginning in November 2006, PWD conducted a pilot Basement Protection Program, working with volunteer residents in the affected neighborhoods to install backwater valves on individual plumbing fixtures and main drains if warranted, and also to identify opportunities to disconnect the property’s downspouts. The pilot program allows for the development of an anticipated and proposed scope of work for the department’s contracted plumbers, and to determine related costs for this work, which involves restoring the portions of the basement or sidewalk affected by the installation of backwater valves. To date, PWD has retrofitted 12 properties while also developing a program protocol that will allow for a larger pool of customers to participate in the program, which is free to eligible property owners.

PWD budgeted $3 million in FY 2009 for the implementation of this program. On July 1, 2007 PWD initiated its soft launch, working through City Council offices and neighborhood organizations. The goal of the soft launch is to allow the program staff and plumbers to begin protecting additional qualifying properties with backwater valve protection while not working under the duress of a rain storm that results in basement back-ups.

Submit an Application

Application forms may be obtained by calling the PWD hotline (215-685-6300). To qualify for the program, the applicant must be the property owner of record; the property should be located within the identified flooding neighborhoods; and the property’s water/sewer bill should be paid to date. The property owner will be required to sign a Basement Backflow Prevention Agreement. Once a scope of work has been defined for the property, work may proceed. Backwater valves require regular maintenance in order to keep them clean and functioning properly. In properties experiencing basement back-ups, basement fixtures can be elevated, plugged, individually retrofitted with a backwater valve, or eliminated. Homeowners can also have a licensed engineer or registered plumber evaluate the feasibility of installing a backwater valve and/or ejector pump.