Norwood sits between two creeks, with Darby Creek on the south and Muckinipattis Creek on the east. When the creeks run high, the pumps and drains that carry water away from a house are the first things tested.
Key takeaways
- Darby Creek borders the borough on the south and Muckinipattis Creek on the east, and the two meet beside the Morton Morton House.
- The Darby Creek watershed is largely developed, with roughly half a million people living in it.
- On December 18, 2023, heavy rain caused significant flooding around Darby Creek in Delaware County. Darby and Collingdale were the reported places, and Norwood was not named.
- The county's emergency services director said the rising water backfilled a number of sewers around Darby Creek, which is the link between creek flooding and sewer backups.
- A failed sump pump and a sewer backup are different cleanups: one is usually clean water at first, the other is contaminated and handled in protective gear.
Between two creeks
Darby Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River and is tidal in its lower course. In that lower course it passes Folcroft, Norwood, Prospect Park, Tinicum Township and Ridley Township before reaching the river.
Muckinipattis Creek enters Darby Creek just before the Delaware River, beside the Morton Morton House, which was built about 1750 where the two creeks meet. The watershed around them is largely developed, with roughly half a million people living in it.
What December 2023 showed nearby
On December 18, 2023, heavy rain caused significant flooding around Darby Creek in Delaware County. The reported places were Darby and Collingdale, and Norwood was not named, so this is regional context and not a local event.
Responders evacuated 12 homes and rescued about 12 people from cars. The county's emergency services director said the rising water backfilled a number of sewers around the creek.
- About 20 residents were displaced.
- 12 homes were evacuated.
- About 12 people were rescued from cars.
- Rising water backfilled a number of sewers around Darby Creek.
How high creek water reaches indoor drains
When a creek rises, water can fill the storm and sewer pipes that drain toward it. If the pipes are full downstream, water that would normally flow out has nowhere to go and can come back up through the lowest openings in a house.
That is the meaning of backfilled. It does not need a flooded street to happen, only enough pressure in the pipes.
- Basement floor drains.
- Basement toilets and showers.
- Laundry sinks and standpipes.
- Any fixture below the level of the street.
Signs a drain is about to back up
A backup rarely arrives without a warning, and the warnings are easy to dismiss in the middle of a storm. A household that knows them has a head start.
- Gurgling from a toilet or drain when another fixture runs.
- Slow drains in several fixtures at once.
- Water rising in a basement floor drain during heavy rain.
- A sewer odor near a basement drain.
- Water in a basement shower or tub that was dry a moment before.
When a sump pump stops
Not every home has a sump pump, but for the ones that do, the pump is the main defense against water rising around the basement. If it stops during a storm, the pit fills and then spills onto the floor.
A sump pump failure cleanup starts with extraction and a check of what the water reached. Because sump water is clean at first, more materials can usually be saved if it is removed quickly.
A pump that runs constantly after a storm is also a warning. It may be fighting a stuck check valve, an undersized motor or very high groundwater, and the sooner it is looked at, the less likely it is to fail at the worst moment.
- A power outage during the storm.
- A float switch that sticks.
- A discharge pipe that is blocked, kinked or frozen.
- A pump that is worn out or too small for the inflow.
Clean water and sewage: two different cleanups
The source decides the category, and the category decides the work. The two jobs can happen at once in the same storm, so the crew separates them.
A sump pit that overflowed
This water starts out clean, though it picks up dirt as it crosses the floor. The crew extracts it, removes soaked carpet and pad, and dries the slab and walls.
A sewer that backed up
This water is Category 3 and carries bacteria. The sewage backup cleanup crew works in protective gear, removes porous materials that touched it and disinfects every surface before drying.
A short plan for the next heavy rain
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was designing a levee project for flood-prone parts of Delaware County and southwest Philadelphia as of December 2023, according to the county's emergency services director. Its status since then is not known, so no household should plan around it.
A better plan is local and simple. A storm and flash flood cleanup crew arrives to a house that was prepared faster than one that was not.
Neighbors on the same street often see the same warnings at the same time. Checking in with them early helps everyone decide when to stop running water in the house.
Other water damage services for the borough follow from the same assessment of the house.
- Test the sump pump by pouring water slowly into the pit.
- Consider a battery backup for the pump.
- Keep floor drains clear and covered if they are not in use.
- Move stored items off the basement floor.
- Keep a list of who to call written where everyone can find it.
Questions
Did Norwood flood in December 2023?
No report named the borough. The reported places were Darby and Collingdale, and the Darby Creek flooding is used here only as regional context.
What does backfilled sewers mean?
It means rising creek water filled the sewer pipes so that wastewater could not flow out and was pushed back toward the lowest openings in buildings.
How can I test my sump pump?
Pour water slowly into the pit until the float rises and the pump starts. If it does not start, or it runs without moving water, it needs service. A battery backup helps when the power fails.
Is sump pit water safe to clean up myself?
It starts clean but can pick up dirt and bacteria as it spreads. Wear gloves and boots, avoid wet outlets, and call a crew for anything that reaches carpet, drywall or a wall cavity.
Will the levee protect my home?
As of December 2023 the Army Corps of Engineers was designing a levee project for flood-prone parts of Delaware County and southwest Philadelphia. Its status since then is not known, so it should not be counted on.
What should I do if a drain starts bubbling during a storm?
Stop using water in the house, keep children and pets away from the drain, and do not run the washer or dishwasher. If water rises through the drain, treat it as contaminated and call a crew.