Can residents direct sump pumps into the sewer?

No, homeowners are prohibited from discharging sump pump connections into the sanitary sewers system.  The sewer system connects to all drains inside your house.  The sewer system should only be connected to drains inside of your house (toilets, showers, sinks, etc.). Everything that enters the sanitary sewer system goes to the South Essex Sewerage Treatment Facility to have waste removed.

Article III Use of Public Sewers section 248-16 of the Town of Marblehead By-Laws provides that, “No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.

If you are interested in connecting a sump pump to the Town’s drainage system, contact the Department of Public Works at 781-631-1750 or email at drains@marblehead.org.

Additionally, the Sewer Department is running a program to remove existing sump pumps connected to the sanitary sewer. They can help determine if your sump pump is connected to the sanitary sewer and advise on how to remove any sump pumps that are connected improperly. For more information please visit www.resump.org.