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To flood protect your home you should understand Fort St. John’s two types
of sewer systems as well as some key plumbing features.
The sanitary sewer carries wastewater (sewage) from your home’s
plumbing fixtures (toilets, sinks, laundry) to the City’s
Wastewater Treatment Facilities.
The storm sewer carries water from the street and lane to drainage
discharge courses, and ultimately to the Peace and Beatton Rivers.
Weeping tile is the perforated pipe that is buried around the
foundation of your home. This pipe collects the water that pools
around your home’s footings and channels it to the City’s
sewers instead of into your basement. Older homes (built before
1960s) may not have weeping tile.
Depending on when your home was built, your weeping tile was connected
to either the sanitary sewer or a sump pump, which pumps the water
out onto your lawn.
The backwater valve is a component of your plumbing system that
prevents water from backing up your sanitary sewer services when
the city’s sewers are overloaded.
The cleanout allows you to access your sanitary service connection
for maintenance and inspection through a screw on cover.
The key to flood protecting your home is a properly graded lot
and a well maintained backwater valve and cleanout. Annual maintenance
is absolutely essential to flood protect your home.
Causes of Flooding
Flooding in your basement is most likely when there is heavy rain
or rapidly melting snow. The amount of water in your basement
can often help to determine the root of the problem.
- If portions of your basement are wet, the cause could be:
- a leak in your home’s foundation, basement walls, basement
windows or doors;
- a failure in your weeping tile system;
- overflowing eaves troughs;
- missing splash pads or downspout leaders;
- downspout leaders are to short; or
- poor drainage due to poor lot grading.
If your basement has flooded, the cause could be:
- loose or missing cap on the weeping tile or sanitary backwater
valve or cleanout;
- a failure of the weeping tile or sanitary backwater valve;
- a plugged line between your house and the city’s main sewers;
or
a failure of a sump pump to pump out weeping tile water.
You might be surprised to learn that a couple of simple fixes
can save you money and make your summer more relaxing.
Lot grading and drainage
A properly graded lot ensures that rain water runs away from your
home, rather than into it. The more water you keep away from
your foundation the less chance there is of basement flooding.
Grading around your home should drain water away from all exterior
walls. A drop of at least 15-20 cm over the first 2-3 meters from
your exterior wall is recommended. The rest of your yard should
be graded toward the front street or the rear lane depending on
the lot design.
A swale (shallow ditch) may be necessary to help drain water
from your property. Swales must be kept free from obstructions
and properly graded.
Over time, the soil around your home can settle and cause flat
spots or depressions that collect water. These areas should be
refilled with topsoil to ensure proper drainage. Low set window wells can also collect rainwater and may have to
be built up.
When the ground under decks and front doorsteps isn’t backfilled
and graded, voids that hold water can occur. These voids should
be filled with soil to ensure proper drainage.
Plugged, broken or absent eaves troughs and downspouts can also
collect water against your house. Make sure that your downspouts
are secure, at least 1.8 meters (6 feet) long and directed to an
area of your yard that drains freely to the street or lane.Avoid piling snow against your home as it can seep into your house
when it melts.
Backwater valve and cleanout maintenance
During heavy rainfall, the storm sewer, and sometimes the sanitary
sewer, may become overloaded and force water back into your property’s
service line. If your backwater valve or cleanout is not secure,
missing a cover, or broken this water can be forced from the
pipe and into your basement.
Your backwater valve and cleanout are located near a perimeter
wall in an access chamber below the basement floor – most
often in your utility room. They might be hidden under carpet or
behind boxes of stored goods.
 Depending on the age of your home, you may only have sanitary
service or both sanitary and weeping tile. There should be a backwater
valve on each.
Annual Maintenance
Inspect your backwater valve(s) to make sure it is functioning
as intended. When you remove the cover, a flapper valve should
be visible. If it has fallen free from the valve body, reset
the hinge as designed. If it is missing, have it replaced.
Ensure that the flapper valve and threads are free of debris,
sand and sediment. A pail of warm water (no soap) should be enough
to wash the sediment from the valve body.
When the flapper valve is clean and positioned correctly. Tighten
all covers – including the cleanout – so they are secure
and water tight.
Call us today
Annual maintenance is absolutely necessary to help flood protect
your home. If you continue to experience basement flooding after
following the information provided above, please contact Victor
Shopland, Director of Public Works and Utilities or Don Demers,
Utilities Superintendent at the City of Fort St. John 250-787-8150 or a local plumber for advice on other potential solutions.
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