What Flat Top Lake Homeowners Should Know About Their Sewer Grinder Pumps 💩
(Thank you, Casey Bias, for the meat of the article!)

If you live at Flat Top Lake, your home’s wastewater system depends on an individual Environment One (E/One) grinder pump. These pumps are part of the community’s low-pressure sewer system and play a major role in keeping wastewater safely moving to the public treatment facility. Understanding how they work—and how to care for them—helps prevent costly repairs and protects our shared infrastructure.

How the System Works
Each home’s wastewater flows into a small holding tank, where the grinder pump breaks down solids into a fine slurry. The pump then sends that material through the pressure system to the treatment plant. When used properly, these pumps offer many years of dependable service.

Help Protect the System: What NOT to Put Down the Drain
Improper items can clog or damage the grinder pump, and repairs for misuse are not covered under warranty. Please avoid flushing or disposing of: These items can quickly lead to pump failure and neighborhood-wide sewer problems.

If You’re Leaving for a Few Weeks
Homes that will be vacant for an extended time should prepare the pump system to reduce odors and buildup. Before leaving:
  1. Run clean water until you hear the pump start.
  2. Turn off the water right away.
  3. Let the pump run until it shuts off on its own.
This simple step flushes the tank and keeps the system in good condition.

During Power Outages
Because the grinder pump needs electricity to operate, be sure to limit water use during any outage. Continuing to run water can overfill the tank and trigger alarms.

What to Do if the Alarm Sounds
Your grinder pump includes a red warning light and audible alarm to alert you when water levels get too high. If this happens:
  1. Press the silence button on the alarm box.
  2. Stop or minimize water use immediately.
  3. Call Shady Spring PSD at 304-255-1565.
  4. Do not flip the switch inside the box—any damage caused will be the homeowner’s responsibility.
Never try to open, service, or disconnect power to the pump on your own.

This is a real life example of what could happen when your grinder pump fails and it sits below your house. If it sits above the level of your house, all of this would seep up through the lowest drain in your home.
 
If multiple houses in a row have non-functional grinder pumps, the sewer line gets clogged, pressure builds up and breaks through the pipe/valves, then spews the contents into our clear waters, because our lake is the lowest point here.This has happened..... and, very recently!


Don't poop out - take care of your grinder pump!