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Last updated on Monday, October 17, 2016
(BEDFORD) - Some Bedford residents who have downspouts or sump pumps dumping water into the city’s sewer lines will receive a letter from the utility department.
During heavy rain, the city's sewers are becoming overloaded. Contributing to the overflow are residential sump pumps, downspouts and broken cleanout caps that send more rainwater into sewer lines. The result is sewage backing up into basements, yards and creeks creating public health hazards, says Bedford Utilities Director Misty Adams.
Last week the Bedford City Council established and passed a storm drainage and groundwater ordinance making it illegal to discharge "clean storm water, surface water and groundwater, including water from sump pumps, roof downspouts, open cleanouts and defective cleanouts, into the municipal sanitary sewer system.
The action came after the Indiana Department of Environmental Management notified the city that overflows need to be addressed and corrected. The city now must report all overflows to IDEM. The ordinance is just one of several changes and improvements the city utilities department is making upon recommendations made by IDEM.
Utility workers are identifying homes that are contributing to the problem. Those homeowners will receive letters asking them to correct the issues. They will have 30 days to correct the issues.
Failure to do so will result in a fine between $100 and $2,500. If residents receive a letter that they are in violation of the ordinance and have questions, they can call Bedford Utilities at (812) 275-1626.
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