How Illegal Sump Pumps are Leeching Ratepayers’ Dollars
Illegal sump pump hookups throughout the city are costing the PMUA and Plainfield tax payers large sums of money. Over the last several years, annual shared costs upwards of a quarter-million dollars have been paid for needless water treatment fees due to improper sump pump connections which are pushing clean water into the sewer system.
Stop the Waste
Storm water does not need to be treated. As it stands now, we are pointlessly spending money to treat clean storm water. Last year alone, the PMUA paid approximately $2,600,000 to the Plainfield Regional Sewer Authority (PARSA) for the total amount of water transported to the Middlesex County Utilities Authority (MCUA) for treatment. Of that $2.6 million dollars in water treatment charges, an estimated $250,000 (based on 2013 fees) could have been avoided if property owners fixed their sump pumps that are discharging water into the sanitary sewer system.
Save the Money
This isn’t just a PMUA problem. Collectively we’re all paying the price for sump pumps that illegally outflow water through a sink or floor drain and into the sanitary sewer. Your sanitary sewer service rates are heavily influenced by our operational costs. PMUA suggests that all homeowners inspect their sump pump connections and down spout pipes to ensure that they are properly hooked up and discharging water into the street or storm sewer, not into an interior drain or utility sink which ultimately leads into the sanitary sewer system. This simple action will help alleviate unnecessary fee expenditures for water treatment and can make a huge impact on customers’ sewer service rates.
Avoid Fines and Floods - Follow guidelines
Not only do faulty connections waste potentially millions of dollars in water treatment fees, they overtax the capacity of our sewer lines and can lead to floods. As such, there are laws in place to protect and ensure the proper flow and efficient operation of our water systems. Property owners can receive a fine if found to be in violation of Storm-Water Management codes stemming from a pump that discharges incorrectly.
If you have questions about your sump pump connection we suggest that you consult a professional and discuss your water discharge options as it relates to Plainfield’s storm water management ordinances.