The Creekside Trail drainage study
The City of Solon hired Burgess and Niple to study the flooding and develop an improvement plan for 21 residences. The firm's project page says it surveyed residents with a questionnaire, that 70 percent responded, and that it modeled the culvert and the storm sewer. The chosen fix was to lower the storm sewer profile.
The page adds that the required depth conflicted with an existing sanitary sewer, so the storm sewer was set slightly lower than the sanitary one. The firm says this should reduce the frequency and severity of basement backups. It does not give the year.
Separately, a public construction listing shows a City of Solon contract named Creekside Trail Storm Sewer Replacement and Windy Hill Sidewalk Installation, with bidding in autumn 2023. We cannot say whether it is the same work as the study. Ask the city for the current status.
Storm water and sewage are different problems
In Solon's code, the sanitary sewer is not meant to carry storm, surface or ground water. Knowing which kind you have decides who to call.
Rain or groundwater
- Seeps in at the wall or floor edge after heavy rain
- Clear or muddy, no sewage smell
- Sump pit fills or runs without stopping
- Point your downspouts away from the house and test the pump
Sewage backup
- Floor drain or tub bubbles, several fixtures slow
- Dirty water with a sewage smell
- Starts without much rain
- Stop using water and call the city Service Department
Water in your Creekside Trail basement?
Tell us if it is clear or dirty and whether the sump pump is running. Call (440) 468-0237.
Who to call first
| Situation | Call first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sewage in the basement | City of Solon Service Department | Crews check the city main first. The owner is responsible for the lateral from the house to the clean out. |
| Water in the basement and the sump pump is quiet | A plumber | A stuck float or a failed pump is a sump pump repair job. |
| Damp walls after every storm | A plumber, then the city if you suspect street drainage | Cause first: downspouts, grading, a drain or the pump. See basement waterproofing. |
| Water entering from a downspout or foundation drain | A plumber | Solon's code says foundation drains may not be tied to the sanitary sewer. |
What to do while the storm is on
- ✓Check the pump. Lift the float with a stick. The pump should start and discharge outdoors.
- ✓Move what you can. Lift boxes and electronics off the floor.
- ✓Photograph the water. Photos show the level and the source for your records.
- ✓Stay out of standing water. If it reaches outlets or the panel, leave the area.
- ✓Do not run the washer or dishwasher. In a backup, that water goes down the same lateral.
Backwater valves and sewer work need the city
A backwater valve is a device some homeowners add to a lateral to slow a backup. We could not find a Solon rule that requires or bans one, so ask before buying. The city's permit guide lists utility installations including sewers and drains, so a lateral change may need a permit.
Digging calls for 811 at least two working days ahead. Mark where your clean out is before the crew comes.
Plumbing help for a street with drainage history
Calls from a street like this fall into three groups. Pump and pit problems go to sump pump repair or new plumbing installation work. Backups go to sewer line cleaning and a camera visit through sewer inspection. Hidden dampness goes to leak detection.
We cover all of Solon and the towns on our areas page. You hear the price before work starts.
Creekside Trail on the map
Creekside Trail plumbing questions
We do not know. The engineering firm says its chosen design should reduce the frequency and severity of basement backups, and a city storm sewer contract for the street was listed in 2023. Ask the City of Solon Engineering Department for the status. Whatever the street does, your own pump and drains matter.
Listing sites use several names, including Creekside Trail Estates and Creekside Estates. We use the street name Creekside Trail, which is what the engineering firm uses.
If it is dirty water or sewage, call the City of Solon Service Department so crews can check the main. If it is clear or muddy rain or groundwater, call a plumber about the pump, drains and downspouts. Call (440) 468-0237 if you are unsure.
They can. The city encourages downspout disconnection and says some projects need a permit. Ask the city before you change how they discharge.
A battery backup keeps the pit emptying during a power cut, which is when storms cause trouble. Ask us to match one to your pit size.
Our dispatch line is set up to take calls day and night. Call (440) 468-0237, say you are in Creekside Trail, and we will tell you what to shut off first.
Sources and standards behind this page
Local facts and rules on this page come from these public sources. Check the current version before relying on a permit or code detail.