The Inspection Process

 

1.    Once on site, we will observe the status of the driveway (see Front Yard Parking Ordinance) to determine whether it is paved or not and, if there is a sump pump, the location of the discharge.  On the building’s inside, we will only need to inspect the basement.  

2.    In the basement, we will need to inspect all of the floor drains as well as the sump pump, if there is one.  The purpose of inspecting the floor drain is to determine if there are any drain tiles entering into it. (This is the point at which the "Clearwater" usually enters the sanitary drain system inside the residence.) Any drain tiles entering the floor drain would have to be plugged (or in some cases altered) and their water re-directed to a sump pump. Please note:  There are only certain methods allowed when plugging off the drain tiles entering the floor drain.  The sump pump will be checked to ensure that only Clearwater is draining into it and that the discharge is directed outside to grade or to a storm sewer, not into the sanitary sewer such as into a floor drain or a plumbing stack in the basement.  Any tees, valves or anything similar in the sump pump discharge pipe will have to be removed to meet compliance-even if the connections are not currently illegally discharging Clearwater into the drain system.  The discharge pipe inside the residence must be made of rigid pipe (schedule 40)-not flexible, corrugated pipe.   Corrugated pipe may used outside.  

3.    When in compliance, the inspector will sign off on a form stating such.  

4.    Currently, there is no charge for the inspections and, unless extensive, any work done as a result of a Clearwater violation will not require a permit.  

5.   It is important to schedule inspections early to allow time for any violations to be corrected, but also to consider any repair costs to the driveway or Clearwater discharge system when determining the property’s asking price.