City Crews Respond to Heavy Rain and Flooding Impacts

Heavy overnight rainfall following several days of wet weather has saturated the ground across Cedar Rapids and is causing flooding along area creeks, drainage issues, and significantly higher-than-normal flows into the City's sanitary sewer system.

City crews are actively responding across the community and monitoring creek, river, street, and sewer conditions. Additional rain is possible in the coming days.

Basement Water: What Residents Should Know

The City has received reports of water in basements. Based on information available at this time, many of those reports appear to involve rainwater or groundwater entering around foundations rather than sanitary sewer backups. City staff continue to investigate reports and closely monitor the sewer system.

After several days of rain, the ground is extremely saturated and can absorb very little additional water. As groundwater rises, water may enter basements through sump pits, foundation drains, cracks, and other openings. Sump pumps may be running almost continuously and, in some cases, may have difficulty keeping up.

A helpful distinction:

• Clear water entering around a foundation, sump pit, or basement wall is more likely to be rainwater or groundwater.
• Dirty or foul-smelling water coming up through a floor drain or other sewer connection may indicate a sanitary sewer backup.

Residents who are pumping clear rainwater or groundwater from basements should discharge that water outside - never into a floor drain or other sanitary sewer connection. Keeping stormwater out of the sanitary sewer system helps preserve capacity when flows are already extremely high.

What Residents Can Do Now

• Check sump pumps to make sure they are working properly and discharge lines are clear.
• Direct sump-pump water outside, away from the foundation and away from the sanitary sewer system.
• Make sure sump pumps, foundation drains, and other systems that collect rainwater or groundwater are not connected to the sanitary sewer.
• If your property has experienced sanitary sewer backups in the past, consider asking a qualified plumber whether a backwater-prevention device may provide additional protection.
• Avoid flooded streets and never drive around barricades.
• Stay away from swollen creeks and fast-moving water.

Report Sanitary Sewer Problems

Residents experiencing a suspected sanitary sewer backup or who have questions about sewer conditions should contact the City's Sewer Division at 319-286-5815.

Flood-Damaged Items and Excess Waste

Residents who need to dispose of household materials damaged by this rain and flooding event should contact the City's Solid Waste & Recycling Division at 319-286-5897 to discuss collection options.

When calling, please identify the materials as flood-related. Special collection arrangements are intended for debris damaged by this event and are not for routine bulky-item disposal or general household cleanup.

What the City is Doing

The City's sanitary sewer system is currently carrying significantly more water than normal. The system is designed primarily to carry wastewater from homes and businesses. During prolonged periods of heavy rain, rainwater and groundwater can enter sewer pipes through cracks, pipe joints, manholes, damaged private sewer connections, and improperly connected sump pumps or foundation drains. With the ground already saturated, that additional water is placing additional pressure on the sanitary sewer system.

Public Works has deployed six portable pumps along major sanitary sewer lines. The pumps are helping lower water levels within the system and create additional capacity for incoming flow.

City crews are also continuing efforts to identify where rainwater and groundwater may be entering sanitary sewer lines and to maintain as much system capacity as possible.

That work is part of an ongoing effort to reduce infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. On Tuesday's City Council agenda is an item to inspect large sanitary sewer lines using internal cameras. Those inspections can identify cracks, defects, and other areas where repairs may be needed.

Street Closure

• J Street SW is closed between Prairie Creek and U.S. Highway 30.

Creeks Are Running Extremely High

Several creeks throughout Cedar Rapids have risen rapidly and, in some locations, moved outside their banks. Residents are reminded that conditions can change quickly following additional rainfall and to stay away from creek banks and fast-moving water.

Current conditions include:

• Prairie Creek has overtopped J Street.
• Indian Creek is affecting areas along the waterway.
• Morgan Creek continues to experience high water.
• Vinton Ditch is elevated.
• Dry Creek has crested.

Cedar River Levels

The Cedar River is rising as water from throughout the watershed makes its way downstream.

Current projections keep the Cedar River below the level at which the City begins additional flood-response actions. The City begins increasing preparations for significant Cedar River flooding when forecasts indicate the river could reach 18 feet. At that level, residents may begin to see additional road closures and temporary flood-protection measures, including HESCO barriers. The City does not currently anticipate the Cedar River reaching 18 feet. If forecasts change and approach that level, the City will increase staffing at the Incident Command Center and provide more frequent public updates.

Public Works and Utilities staff continue to monitor conditions closely and remain in contact with the National Weather Service as forecasts change. The City will continue monitoring creek and river levels, flooded streets, sanitary sewer conditions, and operations at the Water Pollution Control facility and will adjust its response as conditions warrant.

Residents should continue to monitor City communications and local weather information as additional rainfall moves through the area.