Sump Pumps in Poway, CA

Why would a Poway home have a sump pump?

A minority do. The median Poway home was built around 1978, which puts a lot of the city's housing in the era of raised foundations with crawl spaces, and canyon and hillside lots are common across the area. Put those together and you get the typical Poway pump: a small unit in a crawl space pit that catches water running downhill during winter storms, or a pump under a lower-level room or garage cut into a slope. Commercial and industrial buildings sometimes have elevator or mechanical pits as well, and a handful of homes have an ejector serving a bathroom added below the sewer line.

What does Poway require for a backup that runs on water pressure?

Quite a bit. Poway's cross-connection control program, run by the Director of Public Works, requires backflow prevention devices to be tested every year at the owner's expense. The tester must hold an AWWA or ABPA certificate, appear on the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health tester list, and be on the City's approved list. Owners also pay to install any device the City requires. A water-powered backup ties into the City's drinking water, so it comes with that yearly testing. A battery backup does the same job during a storm outage without touching the supply, which is why most plumbers suggest it for homes.

Who do I call for which problem?

The pump, basin, check valve and discharge pipe on your property are a plumber's job. Poway bills water and sewer on one City account; for trouble on the City's side, call Customer Services at 858-668-4401, or after 3:00 p.m. on business days and on weekends and holidays, the Water Treatment Plant at 858-668-4751. Pumped rainwater should never be piped into the sewer, which carries household wastewater. For permits, Poway's Building Services takes electronic submittals only, with plan check and inspection handled for the City by EsGil; the office is at 858-668-4645.

A local note

Dry months are long in Poway, and a pump that hasn't moved since spring can stick on the first storm. Pour water into the pit each fall and watch it start, empty the basin and shut off. Check that the discharge outlet in the yard is clear of leaves and soil as well.