Georgetown Township

Water Department

Storm Water Information

Questions or comments about this website may be sent to contact.georgetown@gmail.com

Georgetown Charter Township

1515 Baldwin Street

Jenison, MI 49428

(616) 457-2340

Contact Information:

Illicit Connections and Discharges

What are Illicit Connections? 
An Illicit Connection is the discharge of pollutants or non-storm water materials into a storm sewer system via a pipe or other direct connection. Sources of illicit connections may include sanitary sewer taps, wash water from Laundromats or carwashes, and other similar sources.
Illicit Connection
Illicit Connection
Illicit Discharge
Illicit Discharge
What are Illicit Discharges? 
An Illicit Discharge is the discharge of pollutants or non-storm water materials to storm sewer systems via overland flow or direct dumping of materials into a catch basin. Some examples of illicit discharges include the overland drainage from a carwash or dumping used motor oil in or around a catch basin.

The Storm Water/Sewer Department is operated by the:

Ottawa County Drain Commissioner
1220 Fillmore, Room 141
West Olive, MI 49460
 (616)994-4530

Ottawa County Road Commission
14110 Lakeshore Drive P.O. Box 739
Grand Haven, MI 49417
(616)842-5400

Sump Pump Cross Connections

What is a cross connection sump pump? 
A cross connection happens when a sump pump is connected to a sanitary sewer line. Often, this can be a hose leading into a laundry tub or a floor drain. Sump pumps are supposed to drain into storm sewers, either through a direct connection (a pipe from the home connecting with the main storm sewer line), or by draining directly onto the ground through a pipe or hose outside the home.

Why are cross connections a problem? 
Sump pump water is what engineers refer to as clear water, most often rainwater, ground water, or snow melt. This water is clean enough to drain directly into area streams, ponds, and lakes without treatment. Wastewater, water from your sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, and washing machines, must be treated at your area wastewater treatment plant before it can be safely discharged into the environment.

How do I know if I have a cross-connected sump pump? 
The illustration above shows the correct method of connection. The key to look for is where the water goes when the sump pump is pumping. If you have a pipe that goes outdoors, and drains into your yard (well away from your foundation), your sump pump is not cross-connected. If you have a hose that drains into your laundry tub or floor drain, your sump pump is cross-connected. If you can see right away that your sump pump is cross-connected, it would be to your advantage to get it re-routed prior to inspection.
Illegal Sump Pump Connection. If your sump pump looks like this please contact Georgetown Township immediately.
Illegal Sump Pump Connection. If your sump pump looks like this please contact Georgetown Township immediately.
Diagram of a Proper Sump Pump Connection
Diagram of a Proper Sump Pump Connection

Illegal Sump Pump Connection

Correct Sump Pump Connection

Sump Pump Inspections

The Township is conducting sump pump inspections to verify correct connections.  Some property owners are improperly handling rainwater and groundwater by allowing it to empty into the sanitary sewer system. 

Water from footing drains, eaves troughs and sump pumps should never be emptied into the sanitary sewer system!  This situation causes the sanitary sewer systems to overload which results in the extra cost of sewer plant expansions, sewer main over-sizing, lift station building and over-sizing, unnecessary flooding damage, and sewer plant treatment of rain and ground waters.  Resulting costs of these occurrences and remedies are subsequently passed on to the property owners.

Inspections are necssary even if you do not have a sump pump.

Inspections are being completed in intervals, and all property owners are notified by letter prior to inspections being conducted in their neighborhood.
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