The last large rainfall event that came through Jefferson created problems from some residents.

City Administrator Scott Peterson says homeowners may have had their basements flooded, either due to rain water coming through the foundation floor and walls or via the sanitary system, which he admits did not function the way they thought it would.

“That happens and it gets overcharged like that, of course water is going to seek its own level and one of the ways that that shows is that it ends up in peoples’ basements. And (I) feel really, really bad about this for these things to happen. But it ended up being a larger event for us and we know that there are many, many homes in the community that have experienced some water in their basements from this.”

Peterson points out that there are two systems including the sanitary and storm sewer. He explains that the sanitary system needs to be clean and open to allow for maximum flow, while the storm sewer is supposed to transport the other kinds of water and take it to an area or a ravine where it eventually flows into the Raccoon River. 

Peterson adds that if any residents see their basements are under water to contact City Hall and Public Works crews will check the city system and determine if it is an isolated incident or if it is bigger than that, as well as possibly provide assistance to the homeowner, including after a weather-related event.