If your home is located on a slope, or your home is lower than the other homes on your street, you may be subject to backflow. If it is, a device called a backwater valve should be installed in your building drain.

This device contains a flapper that opens with thenormal flow of waste away from your home, but swings shut to prevent backflow whenthe direction of flow is reversed. Some of the newer subdivisions in San Jose have hadadditional overflow points, called flushing inlets, installed in the street betweenmanholes to lessen the chance that a sewer stoppage could cause damage to your home.Backwater valves should be located in a vault, similar to the box enclosing your watermeter. Backwater valves are usually located in front of the house, where the sewer drainexits the building. If you believe your home is subject to backflow, you should try tolocate the backwater valve. If your home is equipped with a backwater valve, it should beeasily located. These valves have moving parts, and require periodic inspection andmaintenance. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to do the necessary maintenance.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED A BACKWATER VALVE?

If you think your home needs backwater valve protection, and you cannot locate a backwater valve in your building drain, you should contact a licensed plumbing company. They can provide the expertise to determine if a backwater valve is necessary by checking elevations and determining if your neighborhood has flushing inlets. They can also do the installation if you don’t feel capable of doing it yourself. Remember that a plumbing permit is required for the installation of backwater valves, and inspections of the installations are required as well. Also, be aware that a backwater valve shall not be installed if backflow protection isn’t necessary.

The installation of improvements on road right-of-ways must have prior approval of the site owner.  Examples of such improvements include rocking of ditches, installation of sprinkler systems or culverts and planting of vegetation other than grass.  If you proceede without this there could be legal consequences.

At the commencement of drainage construction, it is the responsibility of the contractor to establish the proper drainage flow in the bar ditches and to reestablish the drainage flow following the correct placement of culverts.  The minimum size of the culverts shall be as described by the drainage plan approved by the local authority.

Easements for drainage are controlled. No homeowner alter or change the course of such drainage easements in a manner that would divert, increase or impede the natural flow of water over and across such easements.

Typically there will be restrictions to say that no property owner or resident may:

1. Allow grass to capture sand from run off so that the accumulation impedes the flow. or
2. Permit either temporary or permanent storage of any type upon or within such drainage easement; or
3. Place, store or permit to accumulate trash, garbage, leaves, limbs or other debris within or upon the drainage easements, either on a temporary or permanent basis; or
4. Alter, change or modify the existing configuration of the drainage easement, or fill, excavate or terrace such easement