Municipal sewage systems often use a network of lift stations (also called pump stations) to move wastewater from lower elevations to higher ground or directly to treatment plants. These stations rely on continuous electrical power to run the pumps. When a power outage occurs, the pumps stop, the flow of sewage is interrupted, and the system’s reserve capacity quickly fills up, posing a risk of sewage backups into streets, basements, and local waterways.
The Core Problem During an Outage
While essential services like hospitals may have backup generators, most standard municipal lift stations may only have high-level alarms to indicate a problem, not automatic backup power.
- Limited Capacity: The storage capacity within the system is usually minimal.
- Rapid Filling: Continued water use by the public quickly overwhelms the station.
Immediate Public Action Required
To prevent property damage and public health hazards, residents must immediately and significantly reduce water use the moment the power goes out, and until it is fully restored.
- Stop doing laundry and using the dishwasher.
- Minimize showering and bathing.
- Limit toilet flushing to essential solid waste only.
- Do not pour liquids down any drains or toilets.
- Avoid flushing non-toilet paper items (wipes, grease, etc.) at all times, but especially during an outage, as these can cause significant clogs.
- After Power is Restored
- Continue conservation for an hour or so to allow the system time to pump down the accumulated wastewater.
- High-level alarms (red lights) may continue to flash after power is restored; this is normal as the pumps work to clear the backlog.
- If a basement backup occurs, avoid the area and contact a professional restoration service immediately. All residents should have a property-installed and maintained backflow prevention device installed on their system to prevent any sewer from entering the property. When your backflow prevention device is closed, stopping the back-up of wastewater, conservation efforts are still needed. Any internal water flow at that time will remain in the internal piping and can create its own backup within the dwelling. Essentially, flooding yourself.
Reporting & Resources
Public Works inquiries call 902-798-8391 Ext 125 or email
To report the power outage itself, contact your electricity provider directly:
- Nova Scotia Power Outage Reporting at 1-877-428-6004.
