Sump Pumps

It causes hazardous conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Additionally:

• in summer, algae or mould can grow on sidewalks and the street, creating an odour and slippery conditions.
• in winter, ice build-up causes slippery conditions.

Click here to learn more about managing your sump pump discharge.

Never unplug your sump pump. 

If water in the sump pump hose freezes, your sump pump can overheat and burn out. There are two ways of preventing this. 

In the fall, once the weather drops below freezing, disconnect the flexible sump pump hose outside then:

• Option 1 —
  Attach a 90 degree elbow to the discharge outlet, and place a splash pad under the discharge outlet. 
• Option 2 —
  Fasten a larger size flexible, perforated drain hose or pipe (4" or 6" diameter) of suitable length to the discharge outlet (e.g., a piece of weeping tile pipe).

If the water is draining towards the property line between you and your neighbour:

• Talk to your neighbour to try and work out a solution— they may not realize there is a problem.
• Check your own lot grading to ensure that your property is sloped to the property line and not draining back towards your house. Draining sump pump water to the property line, which then drains towards (but not directly onto) the street or lane, is normal.

You can try to:

• Consult with a professional (e.g., landscape contractor or landscape architect, or,
• Contact the City of Steinbach’s Engineering Department for the lot grading plan for your property. The lot grading plan can be used to verify the common property line with your neighbour is graded properly. Lot grading plans are available for areas developed after 1986. 

Contact the City

Yes. If a property is found to be draining improperly, the City will issue a notice of By-Law violation. The owner must then correct the violation by the deadline on the notice.

Notices are sent out to property owners who are draining water from their sump pump illegally. Water from sump pumps must not drain directly:

• onto neighbouring properties,
• onto lanes or streets,
• onto sidewalks,
• onto boulevards,
• into swales or ditches, or
• into the floor drain in your home.

If your neighbour's sump pump drains the same way as yours, your neighbor has probably received a notice as well. When a City resident reports a by-law violation, the City inspects surrounding properties. Notices are sent to property owners that are draining water from their sump pump illegally.

Problems identified in a By-Law contravention notice must be addressed by the deadline given on the notice. Ignoring the notice may result in the following: 

• The City may hire a contractor to do the work required in the By-Law contravention notice and add the costs of doing so to your property tax bill.
• The City may issue fines as provided for under the Land Drainage By-Law.

Weeping tile water that collects in your sump pit should not go in the sewer system for two reasons:

• Pumping weeping tile water into the sewer increases the risk of basement flooding for you and your neighbours. The sewer system is designed to manage only normal flows of wastewater, not weeping tile water.
• Pumping weeping tile water into the sewer creates unnecessary costs for homeowners, since it is clean water and does not need to be treated. Additional unnecessary water entering the City wastewater system results in extra wear and tear on equipment, and upsizing of system capacity. These costs are recovered through increases to the sewer rate charged to homeowners on quarterly utility bills.

Changes to the Manitoba Building Code in 1990 require that every new home have a sump pump. The intent is to pump water away from the foundation of your home which increases its lifespan. This water is suitable for watering grass, plants, trees, and shrubs.

Sump pumps must not discharge into:

• Sanitary sewer systems
• Floor drains or plumbing systems
• Private holding tanks
• Streets, gutters, or ditches
• Any City property

• Discharge at least 3m (10 feet) from property lines
• Direct water away from your foundation
• Use a splash pad or similar method to prevent erosion

Improper discharge:

• Overloads municipal sewer systems
• Increases risk of sewer backups
• Can cause flooding for neighbours

If you experience a backup with a functional backwater valve, the source is likely internal, such as:

• Poor lot grading
• Improper sump discharge
• Water use inside the home while the valve is closed

Homeowners should:

• Regularly maintain backwater valves
• Ensure sump pumps are properly installed
• Review Typical Sump Pit/Pump Installation diagram linked above for improvements.
• Review the Frequently Asked Questions above