Local guide / York, PA
Sump Pumps in York, PA: Where the Discharge Can and Cannot Go
A lot of older York basements have a sump pump hose that runs straight into a floor drain or laundry tub. It looks tidy. It is also the one place that water is not supposed to go.
Free to call. Lines open 24 hours.
Who runs the sewer in York now
If you live in the City of York, your sewer service no longer comes from the city. The City of York says Pennsylvania American Water acquired the city's wastewater system on May 27, 2022, and that sewer service is billed separately by Pennsylvania American Water. The city lists the company's customer service number as 1-800-565-7292, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Outside the city, your sewer may be run by your borough, a township authority or The York Water Company, depending on where you live. Your sewer bill tells you who it is.
The rule: no sump pumps in the sanitary sewer
Pennsylvania American Water is blunt about it: connecting a sump pump to the sanitary sewer is illegal. Sump pumps are designed to move groundwater and rainwater. Sanitary sewer pipes are meant to carry sewage only.
The York Water Company says the same thing in its guidance on inflow and infiltration. It lists downspouts and sump pumps as unauthorized direct connections, and asks customers to check that downspouts, floor drains and sump pump connections are not tied into the sewer system. It also asks you to look for uncapped cleanouts on your sewer lateral, since an open cleanout lets rainwater pour straight in.
Need a sump pump line rerouted or a new pump in York? Call to reach a local plumber.
Call (717) 402-9746Why it matters to you, not just the utility
The bigger worry is your own basement. Pennsylvania American Water explains that sanitary sewer pipes under the street are typically only eight inches in diameter, often with a gentle slope. There is only so much flow they can carry.
When rain water from sump pumps and downspouts fills them up, the sewage backs up into the laterals that run from homes to the main. Push enough extra water in and it ends up in somebody's basement, coming out of a floor drain, a basement toilet or a washer drain. During a hard rain, that somebody could be you or your neighbor.
Where the discharge can go
Pennsylvania American Water says sump pumps should discharge only into the yard or a storm sewer, not the sanitary sewer. Its downspout disconnection guidance gives useful distances that also work as a sanity check for a sump line:
- Keep it away from the house. Extensions should not end within six feet of a basement wall, or within two feet of a porch, crawl space, slab or at grade foundation.
- Keep it off the sidewalk. Drainage points should not be within three feet of a public sidewalk.
- Watch the slope. The ground should carry water away from structures. The company advises against disconnecting downspouts on slopes over 10%.
- Give it room to soak in. The landscaped area should be at least 10% of the roof area draining to it. To drain 500 square feet of roof, plan on about 50 square feet of yard.
- Avoid hazards. Do not drain directly over a septic tank, drain field or underground oil tank, and do not run lines across walkways where someone can trip.
The company also reminds homeowners to make sure the work complies with municipal regulations. York row houses with no side yard can be tricky, so check with your borough or township before running a line toward the street.
Signs your sump pump is plumbed wrong
Take a look next time you are in the basement:
- Follow the discharge pipe from the pump. Does it go out through the wall, or does it drop into a floor drain, laundry sink or a pipe that heads under the floor?
- Check for a hose clamped into a cleanout or standpipe.
- Notice whether your floor drain gurgles or backs up in heavy rain while the pump is running.
If the line goes anywhere into the drain system, it should be rerouted outside. A plumber can move the discharge through the wall, add a check valve so water does not run back into the pit, and look at whether the pump itself is sized for your basement.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Checked 2026-10-31. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the source before you rely on them.
Services
Plumbing Help in York
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, flooded basements, sewer backups and no water. Any hour.
Get help →EmergencyBurst & Frozen Pipe Repair
Split pipes after a freeze, leaks in walls and ceilings.
Get help →EmergencySump Pump Repair & Replacement
Pump not running, running nonstop or basement taking on water.
Get help →UrgentSewer Line Repair & Camera Inspection
Backups, roots in the line and cracked clay or cast iron pipe.
Get help →UrgentDrain Cleaning
Clogged kitchen, bath and basement drains cleared fast.
Get help →UrgentWater Heater Repair & Replacement
No hot water, leaking tanks, gas and electric units.
Get help →UrgentWater Line Repair & Repiping
Main water line leaks, low pressure and old galvanized pipe.
Get help →Plan aheadToilet & Faucet Repair
Running toilets, overflows, leaky faucets and new fixtures.
Get help →More guides
More York Guides
Frozen Pipes: Who Owns Which Pipe
When the water stops on a cold morning, the first question is whose problem it is. Here is how it splits in York.
Read the guide →Lead Service Lines: Check Yours
York Water is asking every customer what their service line is made of. If yours turns out to be lead, the company says it will replace it at no cost to you. Here is how to find out.
Read the guide →Plumbing Permits and Licenses
Pennsylvania leaves a lot of plumbing rules to each municipality, so the answer to "do I need a permit?" depends on which side of a township line you live on.
Read the guide →Call any time
Sump Pump Questions in York?
Call to reach a local plumber who can reroute discharge lines, replace pumps and check for sewer backups in York County.