Albert Lea city officials are asking residents who have sump pumps running into the sanitary sewer to set them to discharge outside immediately. Recent rainfall is putting a strain on the system.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said city staff sent letters to residents this week, requesting them to do so. Residents typically are required to discharge the pumps outside by the end of March.

He said on Wednesday morning, the wastewater system had 19 to 21 million gallons of water in the system. On Thursday, it had decreased to 12.5 million gallons.

The most the city’s pumps can pump per day is 24 million, and on a normal day there is between 4 to 4.5 million gallons pumped.

Jahnke said with the colder weather that moved into the area on Wednesday, the city’s system is getting caught up.

“With the weather we’re getting, it looks like we’ll be in good shape,” he added.

However, if there’s a heavy rain, that could change.

He noted Fountain Lake is still high, and Albert Lea Lake is still rising.

The city of Albert Lea began an inspection program for sump pumps, foundation drains and roof leaders that are connected to the wastewater system in 1999 to identify and remove rainwater and groundwater (clear water) from the city of Albert Lea’s wastewater collection system.

Removing this clear water, which does not need to be treated, benefits the community in many ways including:

• Eliminating emergency diversion of sanitary sewers into area lakes.

• Eliminating backup of sewage into basements.

• Making it easier for the city wastewater treatment plant to comply with permit limitations.

• Reducing wear and tear on equipment.

• Lowering wastewater treatment costs.