Everything you need to know about applying
If you’ve experienced a backup, you know it can be a shocking ordeal: water suddenly gushing from a floor drain, toilet, or other basement plumbing.
Unlike the many other causes of basement flooding, backups are the result of heavy rain causing local sewers to become so overwhelmed that water has nowhere to go but through your home’s basement or ground-level plumbing.
The good news: Philadelphia residents may qualify for the Philadelphia Water Department Basement Protection Program (BPP), which provides free installation of plumbing devices called backwater valves that can reduce backups. Some properties may also get downspout modifications at no cost.
Here’s what to do if you think you have a backup problem:
Document flooding: If you’re reading this because you think you just experienced a basement backup, call our hotline right away at 215.685.6300 while you still have water in your basement.
We will send an inspector out to take a sample of the water to determine if it’s coming from the City’s sewer.
Having water sampled is not required to apply for help, but calling to report flooding helps us document the issue and determine if the incident is connected to a storm.
If possible, safely use your phone to shoot video or pictures while the flooding is taking place. Share these with the PWD inspector assigned by our contact center.
Apply for help: Complete the Basement Protection Program application form. You can mail the form to the address provided or email it to [email protected]
Renters: If you rent and think you experienced a basement backup, call our hotline to report the issue and alert the property owner that you’ve requested a Water Department inspection.
Backflow devices are essentially one-way doors installed in the pipe connecting homes to sewers, usually under a sidewalk, and only allow wastewater to flow out into the sewer system.
Downspout modifications may also be needed if the water from your roof’s gutter is flowing through your sewer pipe—see the “Main House Drain” (labeled “I”)—and backing up into your home instead of going out to the sewer. In this case, we’ll help you direct that water to a green area like a lawn or somewhere that it can drain without causing issues.
PWD’s Basement Protection Program can pay for either (or both) of these plumbing improvements for residents who qualify!
Does My Home Qualify for BPP?
Your property’s water bill must be current. If you are behind on your bill, you can still qualify by paying in full or entering a payment agreement. Any previous violations issued by PWD or other City agencies must be addressed prior to participating.
We must be able to access the plumbing where the backwater valve will be installed. This can be an issue in finished basements where drywall or other improvements may have blocked off plumbing. But this is rarely an issue because most BPP fixes take place at the sidewalk or downspout outside.
The pipe connecting your home to the sewer must be good condition. If it is broken or leaking, you can apply to have it fixed with a zero-interest loan through the Homeowner Emergency Loan Program (HELP) or hire a plumber on your own. A backflow device can be installed as part of this work.
To get more information and the application go to: https://www.phila.gov/media/20190807141141/Basement-Protection-Program-Summary.pdf
What to Expect If You Qualify
After we get an application and confirm that you qualify for the Basement Protection Program, we’ll inspect your property and provide a proposal of the scope of work and a Basement Back-flow Prevention Agreement.
You’ll sign that agreement to confirm that PWD will pay for all work related to the installation, and you will be responsible for ongoing maintenance on any backflow valves or other plumbing we install on your property.
Just like any other plumbing that is part of your home, you will be responsible for fixing your backflow preventer or downspout if they become damaged.
They will work with licensed contractors to complete the work at no charge to you, and give you instructions for how to maintain your new device.
The installation includes a one-year warranty, so we will offer free repairs within the first year after installation if any issues pop up, but you’re responsible for regular maintenance and any repairs after one year.
When needed, repairs can often be done by residents with a few tools that can be found at your local hardware store and do not require licensed plumbers.
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