Residents Reminded Not to Pump Water into Sanitary Sewer

BRIDGEPORT – The City of Bridgeport is asking residents using pumps to protect their basements or crawl spaces from flooding to pump those into their yard, alley, or street and not the sanitary sewer system, effective immediately.

“The amount of flow into the sanitary sewer system is exceeding the amount of flow that our system was designed for,” Public Works Director Wayne Kautz (pronounced COWTS) said. “We are asking residents for their immediate help by not pumping their basements or crawl spaces into the sanitary sewer system.”

Bridgeport Municipal Code Section 52.012 prohibits discharges from storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, or subsurface drainage into any sanitary sewer. Fines for violation of the ordinance are $100 for each violation, with each 24-hour period being deemed a separate offense.

“We are expecting high waters for the rest of the summer,” Kautz said. “Having residents help us out now will go a long way into allowing us to continue to operate the sanitary sewer system smoothly through the summer.”

Additional information and updates will be posted on the City’s website at www.cityofbport.com.