As part of Lansing’s B2P2, several solutions are available to help stop sewer backups:
Backwater Valve
A valve is installed in the floor drain or in the service pipe that connects your basement plumbing to the City sewer. With a backwater valve, sewer can only flow from the house to the sewer.
A backwater valve stops sewage from flowing back into the house from the City sewer. It can be installed inside or outside of your home.
Periodic maintenance will help keep the valve clear and working well. While a backwater valve greatly reduces the chance of a backup in your basement, no solution is completely foolproof. Extreme conditions may still cause a backup.
Sewage Pump
A sewage pump is installed under the basement floor or outside the home to collect sewage flowing from the basement fixtures and the basement floor drain. A sewage pump pushes sewage up to an over-head sewer above the floor level. From there, it can drain by gravity into the sewer service line.
Eliminate Basement Service
Basement fixtures are disconnected. Neither a backwater valve or sewage pump is needed to prevent backups.