Sump Pumps in Sedalia, CO

Where should my Sedalia sump water go?

Onto open ground that slopes away from the house. Sedalia is a tiny unincorporated community on U.S. 85, about 8 miles northwest of Castle Rock, with a post office dating to 1872. Sedalia Water and Sanitation District, formed in 1958 to take over a water system the railroad originally installed, provides water only. Despite its name, it says it does not provide sanitary sewer service, and no other sewer provider was verified. If your home is not on municipal sewer, sump water must stay out of the private onsite wastewater system's tank and drain field, which groundwater can overload, and away from any wellhead. If you are on a sewer system of some kind, keep sump water out of the drains.

Which backup should I choose?

It depends on your water. The district serves properties within its boundaries only; homes elsewhere in the 80135 ZIP may be on private wells. On a well, use a battery backup, because the well pump stops when the power does and a water-powered unit would have no pressure. On district water, a water-powered backup is possible but connects to drinking water and needs backflow protection; no district backflow program was found, so check with the district first. A battery unit plus a high-water alarm works anywhere.

Do I need a permit?

Plumbing permits for unincorporated Douglas County come from the Douglas County Building Division, which runs its own county-wide plumbing inspection program rather than relying on the state. A straight pump swap may not need a permit, but new discharge piping or a new basin could. The plumber can check with the county before starting.

One local note

Winter nights along the U.S. 85 corridor freeze any discharge line that holds water. Give the outdoor pipe a steady slope, keep the outlet out of drifts and test the pump before spring by filling the pit with a bucket. The pump should start as the float rises, empty the basin and shut off cleanly. If it hesitates, hums or leaves water behind, call before the next storm rather than during it. A pump that sits idle for months is more likely to seize than one that runs often.