# Sump pump into sewer line **URL:** \ **Category:** Misc. Discussion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2023, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712 "2023-10-21T15:52:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bhill4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bhill4/32/60176_2.png) [@bhill4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bhill4)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/1 "2023-10-21T15:52:11Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/1/1/4/114873eb98a781cb9877db4abb701b315a8137c8.jpeg) ![IMG_1597](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/d/6/a/d6ac1cc95a9deb2954a0c3b431926edffe7e6d5d.png) Seen this connection in basement, it may have been acceptable when house was built, but I think most areas in country would not allow. I called it out as not an acceptable connection. ---
**Author:** ![ruecker](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ruecker/32/357170_2.png) [@ruecker](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ruecker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/2 "2023-10-21T16:00:40Z")
Yep, municipalities in my area generally do not allow it. Some areas they allow it for a few months in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![bcawhern1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bcawhern1/32/408713_2.png) [@bcawhern1](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bcawhern1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/3 "2023-10-21T16:04:03Z")
Where does the sink drain? > [@bhill4](#): > > it may have been acceptable when house was built, but I think most areas in country would not allow. That would have been my statement vs unacceptable connection. ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/4 "2023-10-21T16:05:02Z")
> [@ruecker](#): > > Some areas they allow it for a few months **in the winter.** Exactly! I’ll have to look to see if I can find a pic of the diverter valve setup. Been a while since I’ve seen one. Even though Ryan and I are only 100 miles apart in Minnesota, my area has a low water table, and his (many lakes) has a higher water table, thus a greater need for winter diverting. ---
**Author:** ![ruecker](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ruecker/32/357170_2.png) [@ruecker](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ruecker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/5 "2023-10-21T16:08:33Z")
> [@jjonas](#): > > my area has a low water table, and his (many lakes) has a higher water table, thus a greater need for winter diverting… I have my narratives sorted by “most used” in my template. I just went and checked and “Sump discharging to sewer” is my most used sump pump-related narrative, lol. ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/6 "2023-10-21T16:12:52Z")
> [@ruecker](#): > > “most used” in my template. Interesting… mine is at the bottom of the list. My two most common is “apparent age of pump” and “lack of a Backup sump pump system”, which pretty much go hand-in-hand. ---
**Author:** ![sbridges2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sbridges2/32/213319_2.png) [@sbridges2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sbridges2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/7 "2023-10-21T16:21:38Z")
[quote=“Brian Cawhern, CMI, post:3, topic:234712, username:bcawhern1”] Where does the sink drain? [/quote], It looks the washing machine drains into the sink and the sink drains into the sump pump. ---
**Author:** ![bhill4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bhill4/32/60176_2.png) [@bhill4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bhill4)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/8 "2023-10-21T16:21:42Z")
![IMG_1456](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/f/e/8/fe81a6c3532ee16c76e799f5561c2d46a44177a0.jpeg) Into concrete floor, maybe sewer line, but mostly likely without scoping sump pump well. Again gray water is not allowed in sump pump wells. ---
**Author:** ![bcawhern1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bcawhern1/32/408713_2.png) [@bcawhern1](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bcawhern1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/9 "2023-10-21T16:25:46Z")
> [@bhill4](#): > > Again gray water is not allowed in sump pump wells. So, are you sure it is for ground water? Or is it an old sanitary ejection pump? ---
**Author:** ![ruecker](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ruecker/32/357170_2.png) [@ruecker](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ruecker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/10 "2023-10-21T16:26:20Z")
> [@bhill4](#): > > Into concrete floor, maybe sewer line, but mostly likely without scoping sump pump well… If you put water down the sink, you should have seen it running into the sump, if that were the case. ---
**Author:** ![kleonard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/kleonard/32/170953_2.png) [@kleonard](https://forum.nachi.org/u/kleonard)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 9:07pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/11 "2023-10-21T21:07:15Z")
If it’s a grey water sump and not a fresh water sump, it should be terminated into the sewer line, but it should also be sealed and vented. If it’s a fresh water sump it should not be terminated into the sewer line but instead to the exterior. ---
**Author:** ![sbridges2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sbridges2/32/213319_2.png) [@sbridges2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sbridges2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/12 "2023-10-21T21:13:03Z")
> [@kleonard](#): > > If it’s a grey water sump and not a fresh water sump, it should be terminated into the sewer line, but it should also be sealed and vented… ![IMG_3100](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/9/1/b/91bcf26a5efa54274dcc8e4e3f62bd6337fa57da.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kleonard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/kleonard/32/170953_2.png) [@kleonard](https://forum.nachi.org/u/kleonard)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/13 "2023-10-21T21:15:54Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/c/c/5/cc55eb332d9597cef67106d5af52aae9ecca6aa7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![bhill4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bhill4/32/60176_2.png) [@bhill4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bhill4)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/14 "2023-10-21T22:44:16Z")
In this case I could not confirm seeing water drainage in well, but this doesn’t mean it was not either, could have been below water line in well and was draining around French drainage. Brian Hill Professional Master Home Inspector InterNACHI OH license 2019005340 Hill Home Inspection LLC (330) 503-2888 ---
**Author:** ![bhill4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bhill4/32/60176_2.png) [@bhill4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bhill4)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/15 "2023-10-21T22:46:08Z")
That is what I go by too. Nice picture to confirm. Thanks Brian Hill Professional Master Home Inspector InterNACHI OH license 2019005340 Hill Home Inspection LLC (330) 503-2888 ---
**Author:** ![ruecker](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ruecker/32/357170_2.png) [@ruecker](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ruecker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/16 "2023-10-21T22:47:54Z")
> [@bhill4](#): > > In this case I could not confirm seeing water drainage in well, but this doesn’t mean it was not either, could have been below water line in well and was draining around French drainage… Were there any tile emptying into the pit and/or was the bottom of the pit open to the soil underneath? Or was the pit basket perforated or anything to allow ground water in? ---
**Author:** ![bhill4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bhill4/32/60176_2.png) [@bhill4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bhill4)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/17 "2023-10-21T22:56:04Z")
Perforated and standing ground water in around inlet pipes ---
**Author:** ![mfellman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mfellman/32/369692_2.png) [@mfellman](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mfellman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 9:20am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/18 "2023-10-22T09:20:53Z")
In most areas sumps into sanitary aren’t correct but you’d have to check with the local AHJ to know for sure. Worth writing up with that info and a recommendation to clarify but I don’t scream too loud since I really don’t know. As for the laundry, etc. into the sump into the sanitary that’s pretty much wrong anywhere and everywhere. Being aware of the waste line level in a house is a smart thing to do. It often borders on beyond our scope but is pretty obviously wrong a lot of times - Example: Waste line is at chest level in a basement and there’s a laundry discharging into the basement floor (and likely going to an abandoned septic, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![ryoung7](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ryoung7/32/188798_2.png) [@ryoung7](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ryoung7)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 10:44am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/19 "2023-10-22T10:44:05Z")
Sump discharge into sewer line, creates a heightened risk of sewer water, and raw sewage, backing up through the sump pumps discharge pipes and into the sump thus damaging the residence. Connecting to storm sewers would be more plausible. ---
**Author:** ![kleonard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/kleonard/32/170953_2.png) [@kleonard](https://forum.nachi.org/u/kleonard)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712/20 "2023-10-22T14:07:31Z")
> [@ryoung7](#): > > **Sump discharge into sewer line, creates a heightened risk of sewer water, and raw sewage, backing up through the sump pumps discharge pipes and into the sump** thus damaging the residence. > Connecting to storm sewers would be more plausible. The check valve should prevent that from happening Robert. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/5/e/8/5e8a35f02f567d0a4d845b34d85809ce695c5f2b.jpeg) [Next page](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sump-pump-into-sewer-line/234712.md?page=2)