Sump Pumps in Glendale, AZ

Can irrigation water end up in my sump pit?

It can on some lots. Glendale notes that some downtown properties receive non-potable Salt River Project irrigation water through urban irrigation. When a yard is irrigated that way and the house or a pool equipment pad sits low, water can seep toward a pit or below-grade space. If your pump runs on irrigation days and not otherwise, that is a strong clue. A plumber can check whether the pit, the pump and the discharge are sized and placed for that load, and whether the water is reaching the house through a gap that should be sealed. The same low spots also take on runoff in monsoon storms, which is when an undersized or worn pump shows itself.

Where can the pump send the water?

Not into the sewer. Glendale Water Services runs both the water and wastewater systems, and its Pretreatment Program watches what businesses discharge into the city sewer. A sump hose routed to a cleanout or laundry drain sends storm water where it does not belong, and in a commercial building that can draw attention. The discharge should end on ground that slopes away from the foundation.

A sewage ejector serving a below-grade bathroom is meant to empty into the sewer. If one fails, stop using those fixtures until a plumber has it running.

Does pump work need a city permit?

Sometimes. Glendale's building permit guidance says replacing drain or waste piping requires a permit, so an ejector replacement with new piping or a rerouted line may need one through Building Safety, Codes and Services. A straight swap of a sump pump on existing piping is a smaller job. If you are weighing a backup pump that runs on city water pressure, Glendale's cross-connection program requires approved backflow assemblies at service connections and allows only city-recognized certified testers to test them. A battery backup avoids that.

Homes in Hedgepeth Hills, between Loop 101 and Mohawk Drive and 47th to 51st Avenue, receive Glendale-treated water but are billed by the City of Phoenix.

A Glendale note

The median Glendale home was built around 1985, and almost all sit on slabs. If you are buying an older house with a pit, ask what it drains and test it before the first storm.