Sump Pumps in Surrey, BC: Drainage, Backup Power and Permits

Heavy rain is common on the west coast, particularly in the fall, and the City of Surrey's flood prevention advice for homeowners starts with keeping water moving away from your foundation. If your home has a sump pump, it is part of that system.

This guide covers what Surrey says about foundation drainage and pumping, how to keep your drains and downpipes from overloading the system, when a permit is involved, and when to call a professional. Nothing here is legal advice, and the City of Surrey pages listed at the bottom are the authority.

How foundation drainage and sump pumps fit together

Surrey says most homes have perimeter drains installed slightly below the house foundation. These drains collect water from your house and property and direct it out to the City storm sewer. The City's preference is a gravity connection to the front yard sewer wherever possible.

Where a basement cannot drain by gravity, Surrey allows pumping of foundation drainage only in limited cases. Under the city's Foundation Drainage Pumping guide, the foundation drainage gravity drains to an inceptor sump and then into the sump that houses the pump, and the pumped water goes to a secondary sump on the property before flowing by gravity pipe to the inspection chamber at the property line. The sump is designed to store some water so the float switches can operate, which reduces the risk of a pump short cycling and burning out.

Keep roof water out of the foundation drains

The City of Surrey says that if your downpipes are connected to a hole near the house foundation, they are likely connected to your perimeter drains. That can cause excessive flow to your foundation drains and result in flooding of your house. Its advice is to direct your home's down pipes onto splash pads, which lets rainfall from your roof soak into your lawn and garden.

Surrey also asks owners to keep wastewater and stormwater separate. Rainwater and groundwater that makes its way into the sanitary sewer system has a major impact on the sewer's ability to carry wastewater, and these cross connections can lead to significant damages to the environment and excessive fines and prosecution from the City and Provincial Fisheries and Health Authorities.

Keeping the system working

• Clean the foundation drains. Surrey says perimeter drains are pipes that can become blocked by leaves, pine needles, silt, dirt or roots, and that they need to be periodically flushed or cleaned. If they are very old, they may need to be replaced. If they are not maintained, the amount of water they can handle is reduced, which can result in flooding inside the house.
• Know where your cleanout is. Window wells and foundation perimeter drains are connected to the property storm sump, which acts as a cleanout and access point for debris to be cleaned and maintained by the property owner.
• Clear gutters and storm drains near your property. The City asks you to make sure City gutters and storm drains around your property are clear of leaves, garbage and other debris. After a snowfall, keeping storm drains clear of snow also helps.
• Check ditches and culverts. If you have an open ditch along your property, check that the ditch and culverts are clear, including inside the culvert.
• Read your pump's own manual. Testing and servicing steps depend on the make and model of your pump, so follow the manufacturer's instructions or ask a plumber.

Our guide on a basement leak after heavy rain in Surrey covers what to check first if water is already getting in, and the atmospheric river prep guide for BC walks through the rest of the house.

Backup power and alarms

A pump needs electricity, so a power failure during a storm matters. For homes that are permitted to pump their foundation drainage, Surrey requires:

• A dual (duplex) pump setup with a primary and backup pump, each sized individually to manage design flows from a major rainfall event, defined as a 1 in 100-year occurrence.
• An auto start natural gas generator back-up power supply, so the pumps keep operating if the primary power fails.
• Pumps wired to alternate, so both operate on a regular basis and the backup pump is less likely to seize from lack of use.
• An in-house high water level alarm.

Those requirements apply to new engineered pumping systems under the building permit process, not to every existing home pump. What backup you choose for a home pump outside that process is a question for a licensed plumber or electrician.

Do you need a plumbing permit in Surrey?

A plumbing permit is required under Surrey's Plumbing Bylaw. According to the city's Plumbing Permits page, a permit is not required for:

• Repairing any leaks in pipes.
• Replacement of plumbing fixtures, where the replacement fixtures and installation conform with all requirements in Surrey's Plumbing and Building Bylaws and the Plumbing Code.
• Removal of stoppages in sewer or water pipes, as long as the removal is for cleanout purposes only and does not require the cutting of any sewer or drain pipe.

The Plumbing Permits page does not say whether swapping a sump pump counts as replacing a plumbing fixture. Its fee schedule does list "Lawn basin, sump, manhole, catch basin, interceptors" as charged "As a fixture", but that is a fee line, not a permit exemption. Before you replace a pump or change any piping, check with the City of Surrey plumbing team using the contact details on the Plumbing Permits page.

New pumped foundation drainage systems

Surrey's Foundation Drainage Pumping guide sets out when pumping is an option. If a proposed single-family basement cannot achieve a gravity drainage connection with a minimum ceiling height of 2.74 m (9'-0"), pumping can be an option, provided the property is not in a floodplain area. If a basement can achieve gravity drainage while keeping that ceiling height, pumping would not be considered.

When pumping is allowed, the guide requires, among other things:

• The system is designed by a qualified professional (Professional Engineer with expertise in drainage and pumping systems), and the design is submitted with the initial building permit application.
• An original sealed set of design drawings and an original sealed letter from the Professional Engineer.
• The dual pump, backup generator, alternating wiring and high water alarm described above.
• A Section 219 restrictive covenant registered against the property before the building permit can be issued.
• Field review reports from the Professional Engineer for piping, sump and pump inspections, and a letter from the engineer before occupancy is granted.

Electrical: when Technical Safety BC gets involved

Technical Safety BC says some electrical or gas work may require a homeowner permit. That permit includes an assessment to make sure there is sufficient knowledge and experience for the work to be done properly and safely. It also says permits are a legal requirement in BC and that failure to obtain a permit where one is needed may result in enforcement action. If your project involves new electrical work, check the Technical Safety BC homeowner permits page, or hire a licensed contractor (the page links to a tool for finding contractors licensed for regulated work).

When to call a professional

• You are planning a new basement or suite where the foundation drainage cannot drain by gravity. Surrey requires a Professional Engineer to design the pumping system.
• You are not sure where your roof downpipes drain. Surrey advises directing them to your lawn rather than to your storm perimeter drain or sanitary or storm service connection, and says cross connections of stormwater into the sanitary sewer can lead to excessive fines and prosecution. A plumber can confirm how your property is connected.
• You get flooding inside the house even though your drains and downpipes are clear. A plumber can check the pump and drainage, and Surrey notes that blocked or very old perimeter drains may need to be replaced.
• You want a plumber to look at a sewer service connection. Surrey describes hiring a plumber to video your service connection, placing a small camera in the pipe to show whether it is broken or blocked.

To report flooding of City property, use the City's online report tool or call 604-591-4152 on weekdays from 8:30am to 4pm. On weekends, call 604-591-4431. The City's flood preparedness page also notes that flood damage is not often covered by a homeowner's insurance policy, so consult your insurance broker about your coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources

• Foundation Drainage Pumping — City of Surrey
• Plumbing Permits — City of Surrey
• Plumbing Inspections — City of Surrey
• Flooding Prevention Tips for Homeowners — City of Surrey
• Sanitary Sewer Maintenance for Property Owners — City of Surrey
• Flood Preparedness — City of Surrey
• Homeowner Permits — Technical Safety BC

General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.