City Releases Guidelines For Pumping Water From Properties
EL PASO, Tx. – In the wake of Storm 2006 and the amount of standing water around the Borderland, city officials released guidelines that property owners should follow before pumping that water out.
One viewer contacted ABC-7 to say that the city itself was not following their own guidelines.
Wednesday the city told residents to stop dumping floodwater into sewers and canals. However onThursday morning, ABC-7 found city crews dumping water into a sewer at Bedford and Perth in the Upper Valley.
City officials say drains in some parts of town can handle the extra load. Those are the drains where the city is dumping the water but in many others are maxed out. And that’s why the city says say it’s important for residents to call beforethey pump
According to the city, residential property owners should call the City before pumping out any water to get clearence and instructions. Property owners can call the Development Services Department at 541-4970.
Business owners need to get a discharge water permit before pumping water. To get one,business ownersneed to have a site plan of the property, a water analysis and the $100 permit fee.
City officials add that property owners should not pump water in sewer and irrigation systems. They say doing that will cause problems because those systems are not designed to take in a lot of water.