Once a Queens basement has flooded and been dried out, the next question is how to stop it happening again. There is no single fix, because water reaches basements in different ways, and the right measures depend on which way it came in. This page goes through the four ways NYC’s Department of Environmental Protection says basements and streets flood, and what an owner can do about each, with the city rules that apply.
Queens Water Damage Restoration is an independent referral service, not a restoration company. When you send the form, your details go to an independent local restoration provider serving Queens, who can contact you, inspect and quote any work directly. You decide whether to hire them.
First, work out how the water got in
DEP names four kinds of flooding in the city. Street flooding comes from catch basins blocked by leaves and debris. Coastal flooding comes when high tide and storm surge send tidal water back into the sewer system. Groundwater flooding comes when the ground is saturated and water enters through foundation cracks or a leaking floor drain. Sewer backups come when heavy rain exceeds the pipes’ capacity and water overflows from manholes, catch basins and basement sewer connections. Waterproofing that suits one of them can do nothing for another, so the first step is to look at where the water appeared.
Downspouts: a rule, not a suggestion
DEP says it is mandatory for homeowners to make sure their downspouts, the rain gutters’ pipes, are disconnected from the city’s sanitary sewer system. Connected downspouts can overwhelm the sewer with rainwater and cause sewer backups in basements, including your own. DEP’s guidance is to redirect the water at least 6 feet away from the foundation, and it notes that non-compliance may result in fines. For many Queens houses with gutters piped straight into the ground, this is often the simplest change, and it is the one the city requires.
Backwater valves for sewer backups
If water came up through a floor drain, toilet or basement sink during heavy rain, the problem is a sewer backup. A backwater valve on the sewer line is there to stop sewer water flowing back into the house; FloodHelpNY notes that when the valve is closed, water stops going down your drains. FloodHelpNY lists types including gate, ball and flapper valves, also called check or duckbill valves, and says a plumber or engineer can tell you which type, if any, suits your home. Installation is plumbing work on the building’s sewer connection, so ask about permits.
FloodHelpNY’s Residential Backwater Valve Installation Program has listed eligible communities, including Rockaway East and Howard Beach in Queens. Whether the program is taking applications now should be checked on FloodHelpNY’s own site.
Cracks, drains and groundwater
Water that seeps through the walls or rises at the floor after days of rain is groundwater. The measures here are about the building itself: sealing cracks, managing water at the foundation, a working sump pump where the house has a pit, and keeping the floor drain clear and working. Grading the ground so it slopes away from the house, and keeping the outside basement steps and area drains clear, help with water that arrives at the surface. A waterproofing contractor or engineer can say which of these your house needs.
Filling a basement
Some owners consider filling in a basement after repeated floods. FloodHelpNY says filling a basement needs an engineer and a permit from the NYC Department of Buildings.
Catch basins and the street
DEP cleans and maintains 150,000 catch basins across the city. If the one outside your house is clogged, report it to 311 before the next storm. Clearing leaves from the grate is a small job, and a blocked basin can put street water at your door.
Why it matters in Queens
The NYC Health Department’s lesson from Ida is that rainfall flooding can happen anywhere in the city, and that low-lying areas and basement apartments are at higher risk. Ida’s rain fell at up to 3.5 inches an hour in some areas, twice NYC’s sewer capacity of 1.75 inches an hour, and ten of the fourteen people who died drowned in unregulated basement apartments. The Health Department also reports a 200 percent increase in high tide flood days from 2000 to 2021, and says higher tides mean flooding can happen even when there is no severe weather.
Flood insurance and planning
No waterproofing measure stops every flood. NYC notes that the high-risk flood area has a 26 percent chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage, and a flood insurance policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase, so it is a decision to make before a storm is forecast. Check your own policy or ask your agent. If water has already come in, start with water removal in Queens or flood cleanup.
Water in a Queens basement now? Send the form with your neighborhood and an independent local provider can contact you.
Questions people ask
Do I have to disconnect my downspouts in NYC?
DEP says it is mandatory for homeowners to make sure downspouts are disconnected from the sanitary sewer, redirecting water at least 6 feet from the foundation. Non-compliance may result in fines.
Which backwater valve should I get?
FloodHelpNY lists gate, ball and flapper types and says a plumber or engineer can tell you which, if any, suits your home.
Is this site a waterproofing company?
No. Queens Water Damage Restoration is an independent referral service, not a restoration company. When you send the form, your details go to an independent local restoration provider serving Queens, who can contact you, inspect and quote any work directly. You decide whether to hire them.
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