My parents have been dealing with sewage backup into their basement for 35+ years. On Monday evening their SE Michigan community received 6.24" of rainfall. The older suburb has combined storm and sanitary and I know this accounts for the backup.

The home has no sump but rather a Shellback "torpedo pump" that sits in the cleanout for the storm and starts pumping when water rises in the cleanout. Sometimes this pump has kept up and other times they have received 4-6" of water.

On Monday evening they received 3 feet of water in their basememt. All was lost, and I have tore out the drywall etc. 4 feet from the floor where it was still dry.

What are some solutions to keep the water out of their basement? I told my parents I will not help them restore the walls etc. until we have addressed the backup issue.

I appreciate any advice you can offer.

? to keep water out with certainty ? ~ NONE

to most likely prevent sewer backflow? ~ Back Water Valve ~ requires periodic maintenance and there is no guarantee

a raised finished floor and a battery back up sump pump is the best - very costly and hi maintenance to insure actual operation when needed

OR

unfinished basement as per original design

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

The"ideal" solution would be an overhead sewer for the upstairs plumbing and a sump pump or ejector pump for the basement.