FAQs • Cedar Falls • CivicEngage

The only time my sewer backs up is in heavy rainstorms. Why is that?: Heavy rain can cause infiltration and inflow problems that overload the city's sanitary sewer system. Some of the city's sewers are nearly a century old. When the ground is really wet some of that water can infiltrate through cracks into the sanitary sewer. The city has an ongoing maintenance program to seal up those leaks and upgrade the system. Inflow problems are magnified by people diverting sump pump discharges into the sanitary sewer instead of out on the lawn or into the storm sewer where they belong.

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Water Reclamation

1. Does Cedar Falls have a combined or separate sewer system?: Storm water is collected separately from wastewater collected in the sanitary system. Storm water typically drains into intakes along the edge of the street. It does not go through any kind of treatment system and ends up in the river. All sanitary wastewater is treated extensively at the water reclamation facility on East 4th Street before it is released into the river.

2. My basement drain is running slowly. What should I do?: About eighty percent of the time this is the result of a problem in the homeowner's plumbling; a buried line in the basement floor, or between the basement and the city's main has become restricted and needs to be cleaned. You can rent the needed equipment and do-it-yourself or call a plumber or drain cleaning company. Rarely, there could be a problem developing in the city's main sewer line. Call the Water Reclamation/Sewer Division at (319)273-8668 to have a city crew check it out.

3. Water is backing up in a basement floor drain and I'm not using any water. What is wrong?: If you are not using any facilities and water is backing up, a problem has likely developed in the city's main sewer line and you should call the city for immediate service at (319) 273-8668. This number is available 24 hours a day. Listen carefully to the prompts and select the option to connect with an emergency response crew. There is no charge for this service.

4. The only time my sewer backs up is in heavy rainstorms. Why is that?: Heavy rain can cause infiltration and inflow problems that overload the city's sanitary sewer system. Some of the city's sewers are nearly a century old. When the ground is really wet some of that water can infiltrate through cracks into the sanitary sewer. The city has an ongoing maintenance program to seal up those leaks and upgrade the system. Inflow problems are magnified by people diverting sump pump discharges into the sanitary sewer instead of out on the lawn or into the storm sewer where they belong.