With the wet weather lately, chances are your basement sump pump is running a lot.
Mason City wants to make sure homeowners are following local ordinances. The city will start sump pump inspections next week in about 250 homes.
Mason City experienced widespread sewer back-ups in 2004 and 2008 and they want to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Sump pump inspections will start next week in the Eastbrooke and Asbury Farms neighborhoods to make sure residents are following the law.
"More of an awareness program to make people aware of the fact that sump pumps should not be discharged into the sanitary sewer," said Bill Stangler, Mason City Maintenance and Operations Manager.
Sump pump testing is something that's been going on in Mason City for a few years.
"This is a completion of a five year program and in the five year program we pick out random areas to go through to make a determination of how much problems we have with sump pumps," said Stangler.
Their main goal is to reduce the amount of water going through the water treatment plant, and to prevent another sewer back-up.
"If we get enough rainfall and we have enough infiltration or influx into the sanitary sewer system it can compound a problem," said Stangler.
"I think as the word gets out people kind of understand what is going on and they know how to connect it before we get there," said Todd Applegate.
Applegate is with WHKS and Company. He will conduct the pump inspections. He says homeowners chosen for the inspection will be contacted by the city.
"I think it's an inconvenience to a lot of people but I think everybody understands after I explain it to them a lot of times they'll understand why I’m doing it and the value of the program itself," said Applegate.
And those people who are not in compliance with the city's sump pump ordinance have time to make corrections.
"They do have sixty days to change it and typically it's fairly inexpensive a good do it yourselfer can do it otherwise you hire a plumber," said Applegate.
About 10 percent of homes inspected since the program began have been non-compliant with the city's ordinance.
People who don't comply can face penalties if the city chooses to peruse them.
Areas of town that have what's considered to be high ground water, or are new development areas are typically chosen for the inspections.
