Published on

What Is a Stormwater Sump? Pumps to Keep Lower Level Interiors Dry

With all the rainy weather over the last few years, someone may have suggested that you invest in a stormwater sump for your New York City property. If you then asked, “What is a stormwater sump?” this post is tailor-made for you. We review the role of a stormwater sump and why more buildings in the Northeast are installing this handy type of pump. We also offer suggestions to help mitigate excess rainwater runoff so you can use multiple strategies to protect your property.

What Is a Stormwater Sump?

The function of a sump pump

A stormwater sump, also commonly known as a sump pump, is designed to remove rising water from low-lying areas in a building before it can cause damage. Like a sewage grinder pump also used in low areas, a pump sits in a basin, which usually lies in a hole in the floor. When a simple float sensor in the basin detects rising water, it triggers the pump to turn on and remove the water by sending it elsewhere, away from the building structure.

Typically, sump pumps are installed to remove rainwater during heavy storms. However, they can also handle excess runoff from melting snow and periodic high water tables in wet locations. If you know the history of New York City, you probably know that many areas of the city were once wetlands or near wetlands, so there is little buffer when the city experiences excess precipitation. That water has to go somewhere when it rises, and unfortunately, it’s often in the basements and below-grade apartments of the city’s residences and commercial buildings.

What Is Happening with Weather in the Northeast?

Increase in severe weather events

You’d have to be living in a cave not to have noticed the uptick in serious storms in the Northeast lately, largely related to climate change. With every passing year, the eastern seaboard from Boston to Washington has experienced extremely heavy rainstorms in summer and devastating hurricanes in autumn. Particularly bad storms that coincided with high tides caused storm surges, which in turn resulted in terrible flooding.

While we have mostly noticed what seems like an abrupt change in the weather over the last few years, this trend has actually been going on for decades. In fact, according to US government sources, the Northeast has seen the greatest increase in extreme precipitation of any region in the country between 1958 and 2010: an astounding 70 percent increase in the heaviest of events.

Why More New York City Properties Need Stormwater Sumps

Protection from interior water damage

We’ve had a couple of catastrophic rainstorms recently in New York City, similar to the one this August in the District of Columbia, the edge of which was felt here. Tropical storm Elsa and another storm this July caused massive problems around the metropolitan area, including:

• Flooded roadways
• Traffic jams and extra long commutes
• Overflowing creeks and rivers
• Water rescues of people trapped in vehicles
• Subway shutdowns
• Flooded apartments
• Ruined properties
• People made homeless by water damage
• Lost rental income for property owners
• Lost work time due to damage and absences
• High insurance claims
• Risk of electric shock
• Bacterial and mold contamination
• Pollution of waterways, potentially damaging the water supply

It’s become more apparent that the large area of impervious surfaces in New York City – primarily paved and hardscaped areas – means there’s nowhere for rainwater to escape to during heavy storms. Instead of soaking into the ground, it runs to the lowest point nearby, which is often someone’s home or business. Rainwater also comes up through the floor, which is totally preventable with a stormwater sump. Much of the damage from heavy rain around the city could be reduced with the use of strategically placed sump pumps.

What Else Can You Do to Protect Your Property from Rain Runoff?

Water damage mitigation measures

In addition to installing a sump pump in your property’s basement or below-grade units, are there other things you can do to reduce the damage from heavy rains? Yes!

The best thing you can do is help find a place on the exterior of your building for rainwater and snowmelt to go. Greenspaces and gardens are ideal for this because they absorb water that would otherwise try to run to the lowest point on the property. Even more porous surfaces, like gravel walkways and driveways, help with this.

If your property is 50,000 square feet or more, the city Department of Environmental Protection may be able to help you upgrade drainage to reduce runoff. They are rolling out a green stormwater incentive program for property owners.

Other options include collecting rainwater in barrels for use later as plant irrigation, car washing, and the like. Depending on the layout of your property, you might also be able to have a landscaper install a dry well, which catches rainwater in one large vessel, channeling it away from your building, and releases the water somewhere more appropriate, like a patch of landscaping.

Finally, keep your gutters, downspouts, drain pipes, and other water channels clear by checking them after every major storm, along with your rooftop exhaust fans. Pick up trash and other detritus that you don’t want floating into the city’s waterways through storm drains or surface runoff. And support local government programs to find creative solutions to climate change problems. Remember, it’s your property that’s at stake if these initiatives don’t get the backing or funding they need.

Do you need sump pumps installed in your property to protect against water damage? Call Antler Pumps today at 212-534-2500 to schedule an appointment, and we’ll get it taken care of for you. We also provide maintenance and repairs for existing sump pumps, so you know you can count on your pumps when the next storm rolls around.