Sump Pump

A sump pump discharge line should carry water to an approved drainage location where it can continue moving away from the home instead of immediately flowing back toward the foundation or sump pit. In the City of Covington, unpolluted groundwater and subsurface drainage should not be discharged into the sanitary sewer system; city code directs those waters to the storm drainage system subject to applicable City requirements.

A sump pump can work perfectly and still leave you with a water problem if its discharge line sends the water to the wrong place.

The pump’s job is only the first half of the system.

The second half is getting that water away from the structure and into an appropriate drainage path.

If the outlet dumps water beside the foundation, into a low spot, against an obstruction, or through a restricted pipe, some of the water may remain around the property instead of being effectively carried away.

That makes the discharge route worth inspecting separately from the pump itself.

What Is Happening at the Discharge Point?

What You Notice	What to Investigate
Water empties right beside the house	Outlet location
Water runs back toward the foundation	Grade and discharge direction
Little or no water reaches the outlet	Restricted or damaged discharge line
Water pools around the outlet	Poor receiving area or low spot
Outlet is covered with soil, grass, or debris	Blocked termination
Discharge pipe leaks before reaching the outlet	Pipe/joint problem
Water seems to return after the pump stops	Discharge-system backflow deserves inspection
Line appears connected to a sanitary sewer	Verify immediately; Covington restricts this type of discharge
You want to connect directly to a public storm structure	Confirm the permitted arrangement with local Public Works first

The most important question is not simply:

“Is the pump running?”

It is:

“Where does the water go after the pump moves it?”

Why the Sump Pump Discharge Location Matters

The discharge point should help remove water from the problem area rather than relocate it a few feet and allow it to return.

Think of the system as a complete path:

Water enters the sump pit → pump moves the water → discharge pipe carries it outside → receiving area carries or absorbs it away from the structure.

If the final step does not work, the entire drainage system becomes less effective.

For example, a pump could move water out of the pit successfully while the exterior outlet releases that same water into a low area beside the home.

The pump itself may not be the defective component.

The water-management path after the pump may be the issue.

Problem #1: The Discharge Outlet Is Too Close to the Foundation

A discharge outlet that releases water immediately beside the house can defeat the purpose of pumping that water away.

After exiting the pipe, water still follows the surrounding grade.

If the ground directs it back toward the home, the water can remain concentrated around the same area the sump system is trying to protect.

Look at the outlet while the pump is operating and again several minutes afterward.

Ask:

• Does water continue traveling away?
• Does it spread into a suitable drainage area?
• Does it collect beside the wall or crawl-space perimeter?
• Does it run back toward the house?
• Is there already standing water where the outlet terminates?

The correct arrangement depends on the site’s grading and the approved local drainage path. There is no benefit in choosing an arbitrary distance if the terrain simply sends the discharged water back toward the structure.

Problem #2: Water Flows Back Toward the House

The direction water travels after leaving the pipe matters just as much as where the pipe ends.

An outlet can appear to be several feet away and still perform poorly if the surrounding land slopes toward the home.

Watch the water rather than judging the installation only by the pipe location.

After discharge, the water should not immediately form a channel back toward:

• the foundation;
• crawl-space perimeter;
• sump location; or
• another low area beside the structure.

The City of Covington’s broader drainage standards emphasize managing runoff through appropriate drainage systems and avoiding harmful downstream or adjacent drainage conditions.

For a homeowner, the practical principle is straightforward:

The outlet needs a receiving path, not merely an exit point.

Problem #3: The Discharge Line Is Restricted

A pump may be operating while the discharge piping prevents water from leaving at the expected rate.

Possible exterior problems include:

• crushed piping;
• a sharp kink in flexible discharge material;
• debris at the outlet;
• soil covering the termination;
• roots or vegetation obstructing the exit;
• a separated or damaged joint;
• an underground section that has shifted or become restricted.

Do not assume the pump is undersized just because water leaves slowly.

First determine whether the discharge route itself is open.

Watch the Exterior Outlet During Operation

When conditions are safe, observe what happens when the pump activates.

A useful observation is:

Does a clear stream of water actually reach the discharge point?

If you can hear the pump operating but little or no water appears at the expected outlet, the discharge path deserves inspection.

Avoid digging blindly around buried piping or disconnecting a pressurized discharge assembly without understanding how the system is routed.

Problem #4: The Outlet Is Buried or Blocked

A discharge termination can become ineffective when grass, soil, leaves, landscaping material, or other debris obstructs the opening.

Outdoor discharge points are easy to forget because homeowners usually spend more time looking at the sump pit than at the far end of the pipe.

After storms or landscaping work, verify that the termination remains:

• visible;
• unobstructed;
• structurally intact; and
• able to release water freely.

Covington’s flood-preparedness guidance specifically stresses keeping debris out of drainage systems because debris reduces stormwater conveyance capacity and contributes to drainage problems.

The same practical idea applies at the property level:

Water cannot leave efficiently through an outlet that is physically blocked.

Problem #5: The Outlet Creates a Permanent Wet Spot in the Yard

Repeated pooling at the discharge point suggests that the receiving area may not be handling the amount of water being sent there.

A small wet area immediately after a pump cycle is different from:

• standing water that remains for long periods;
• erosion forming around the pipe;
• water spreading toward the house;
• water repeatedly crossing a walkway or driveway; or
• a saturated area that receives every pump cycle.

Do not solve this by simply extending the pipe in a random direction.

Moving the outlet can shift the drainage problem toward:

• a neighbor’s property;
• a sidewalk;
• a street;
• another low area; or
• a drainage feature that requires approval.

A proper solution considers where the discharged water will continue traveling after it exits the pipe.

Can a Sump Pump Discharge Into the Sanitary Sewer in Covington?

Within the City of Covington, groundwater and subsurface drainage should not be directed into the public sanitary sewer system.

Covington’s Code of Ordinances specifically prohibits unpolluted water, including stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, and subsurface drainage, from being discharged into the sanitary sewer. The ordinance states that these waters are to be discharged into the public storm drainage system according to applicable City requirements.

That distinction matters because a sanitary sewer and storm drainage system serve different purposes.

The City code expressly states that the sanitary sewer should not be burdened with stormwater runoff and similar water that belongs in the storm drainage system.

So if you discover that a sump discharge appears to be tied directly into a sanitary sewer connection, do not assume the arrangement is acceptable just because it has existed for years.

Have the routing verified.

Can I Connect the Sump Pump Directly to a Storm Drain?

Do not assume that being allowed to discharge groundwater to the storm drainage system means a homeowner can independently cut into any public storm drain or structure.

Covington’s code says groundwater and subsurface drainage belong in the storm drainage system pursuant to applicable City requirements.

The City’s Public Works Department is responsible for drainage infrastructure, sewer operations, and related public systems.

If a proposed discharge route involves:

• a public storm drain;
• roadside drainage;
• a ditch;
• a right-of-way;
• a drainage canal; or
• modification of an existing drainage feature,

confirm the acceptable arrangement with the appropriate local authority before making the connection.

Covington also states that only stormwater is permitted in storm drains located in streets, rights-of-way, and parking lots.

The key distinction is between proper stormwater drainage and an unauthorized physical connection or alteration.

What About Homes Outside Covington City Limits?

Local drainage requirements can change once a property falls outside the City of Covington’s jurisdiction.

A Covington mailing address does not necessarily establish which public agency controls every drainage feature around a property.

For homes outside City limits, the relevant authority may involve St. Tammany Parish, a subdivision or HOA drainage system, another municipality, or a privately maintained drainage feature.

Before connecting a discharge line to infrastructure you do not own, verify who controls that system.

Above-Ground vs. Buried Sump Pump Discharge Lines

Either arrangement can move water successfully when the route remains open and leads to an appropriate outlet.

The main differences involve accessibility and protection.

Above-Ground Discharge

An exposed route may make it easier to:

• see where water exits;
• notice a leak;
• identify a kink;
• check for an obstruction; and
• modify the layout when permitted.

But exposed piping also needs protection from damage and should not create a trip hazard.

Buried Discharge

Buried piping can provide a cleaner appearance and protect much of the line from ordinary yard activity.

However, problems can be harder to see.

A buried line can develop:

• low spots;
• crushed sections;
• separated joints;
• root intrusion around damaged areas;
• blocked outlets; or
• grading problems that are not obvious from the surface.

If the line disappears underground and you cannot identify where it terminates, locating the outlet is an important first step.

What Does a Check Valve Have to Do With the Discharge Line?

A check valve is designed to prevent water in the discharge pipe from flowing backward after the pump stops.

Zoeller, a sump-pump manufacturer, describes discharge-line check valves specifically as devices used to prevent backflow.

That is different from an exterior drainage problem.

A check valve manages water inside the discharge piping.

The exterior outlet determines what happens after water leaves the piping.

Both are part of the discharge system, but they should not be treated as the same diagnosis.

If your pump is rapidly cycling or the check valve itself appears to be malfunctioning, that moves into pump-system service rather than the outlet-routing topic covered here.

Why Does Water Sometimes Seem to Come Back After It Was Pumped Out?

There are two different situations homeowners can confuse.

Water Returns Through the Discharge Pipe

This can involve the discharge plumbing or backflow-prevention components. Manufacturer guidance notes that a check valve in the discharge line is intended to reduce reverse flow.

Water Returns Through the Ground

This is different.

The pump may successfully discharge water outdoors, but the exterior grade or receiving area may direct it back toward the home.

The first is a piping-system issue.

The second is a site-drainage issue.

Observing the exterior outlet can help distinguish between them.

What Should You Check After Heavy Rain?

Heavy rain is a useful time to observe the discharge route because the system is operating under real water load.

From a safe location, check:

Observation	What It Tells You
Water reaches the expected outlet	Confirms basic discharge path
Strong flow exits but returns toward house	Exterior drainage problem
Little flow reaches outlet	Possible line restriction
Water sprays from a pipe joint	Discharge piping damage
Outlet disappears underwater	Receiving area may be overwhelmed
Soil is washing away	Outlet may be causing erosion
Yard remains saturated around outlet	Receiving location deserves evaluation
Water enters a sanitary sewer connection	Routing needs correction/verification
Public drainage connection looks improvised	Verify with local authority

Do not enter flooded areas containing electrical equipment just to inspect the line.

An exterior visual check is enough to gather useful information.

When Is the Problem the Discharge Line Rather Than the Pump?

Suspect the discharge route when the pump appears to activate normally but the water is not successfully reaching or leaving the intended exterior outlet.

Examples include:

• pump operates but outlet flow is weak;
• discharge water appears from a damaged pipe joint;
• exterior outlet is blocked;
• water exits and immediately runs back toward the structure;
• yard pooling occurs repeatedly at the termination;
• buried discharge piping has no identifiable outlet.

Those symptoms are different from a pump that:

• will not turn on;
• has a failed motor;
• has a stuck float;
• or needs replacement.

Keeping those two search intents separate avoids replacing a working pump when the real problem is the route carrying its water away.

Do Not Redirect Water Onto a Neighbor’s Property

Moving the outlet farther from your house does not automatically make the new location appropriate.

Drainage should be considered beyond your property wall.

A discharge route should not simply transfer concentrated water toward adjacent land or create a new drainage problem downstream.

Covington’s subdivision drainage standards specifically emphasize providing for surface-water disposal without damaging adjacent, downstream, developed, or undeveloped land.

If a new discharge route materially changes where water leaves the property, local review may be appropriate.

What Should You Photograph Before Calling?

A few photos or short videos can make discharge-line diagnosis much easier.

Capture:

• the sump pit and pipe leaving the pump;
• the visible discharge line;
• any check valve you can see without disassembly;
• where the pipe exits the building;
• the final outdoor outlet;
• water flowing from the outlet;
• standing water after the cycle ends;
• any erosion, leaks, or damaged pipe;
• the direction the yard slopes from the outlet.

A short video showing an entire pump cycle and the corresponding exterior discharge can be especially useful.

Instead of saying:

“The sump pump isn’t working right.”

you can say:

“The pump turns on and water reaches the outside outlet, but the outlet empties into a low spot and the water runs back toward the crawl-space side of the house.”

That separates the discharge problem from the pump itself.