Inspection Criteria for Water and Sewer Compliance
Every property sale in the City of Niagara Falls, NY is treated as an individual case.
There really is no set answer to obtain compliance. A few things we know for sure are as
follows:
Not every home or building is required to have a check valve installed. However, if a
check valve is needed, we require the installation of a Potable Water Expansion Tank
along with that valve.
Commercial buildings with certain demands, processes or potential cross connections on
the water supply will require the installation of a New York State Approved Backflow
Device. All installations of commercial backflows will require a set of plans submitted by
a Master Plumber registered to do business in Niagara Falls, NY. Those plans must then
be approved by this Department and the Niagara County Health Department.
All buildings must be correctly connected to the sewer system available to that building.
Some areas have separate storm and sanitary sewers and no cross connection shall occur
between the two. These cross connections include basement footing drains, roof leaders
and sump pumps. These sources of storm water must be separated from the sanitary
sewer. Other areas have combined sewers and will accept both storm and sanitary.
Gutters and downspouts are a must and must be connected to their collectors, if available,
in combined sewer areas. All downspouts and sump pumps must be connected to a
separate storm sewer in areas where a separate storm system is available.
When access to a Storm Sewer Connection is not available alternative methods of storm
water management may be used at the direction of the Director or His/Her Designee.
Alternative methods may include overland splashing, approved bubbler systems or
drainage systems to an available watercourse. Under no circumstances can these
alternative methods create a nuisance to public or private property.
If you have any further questions you can contact me at (716) 283-9770 ext 240, or on
my cell at (716) 622-6235.
Randall Burns
Cross Connection Inspector
Niagara Falls Water Board
