Flood Control and Safety

In the United States, flooding causes more deaths each year than any other severe weather event. Most of these deaths are preventable. Always turn around when you see water over the road. Just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet or cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Be Prepared: Flooding can happen almost anywhere if it rains hard enough. Understanding these four types of flooding will help you protect your home and know who to call for help.

1. Riverine Flooding (Rivers and Streams)

This happens when rivers or streams overflow because of heavy rain or melting snow. Every waterway has a floodplain—the flat land nearby that is meant to soak up extra water. To protect our community, we limit building in these areas.

West Des Moines works with Clive and Des Moines to use the Metro ALERT system. This system uses sensors to track rain and river levels in real-time, helping us manage our levee systems during emergencies.

Check the FEMA Flood Map for your address

2. Local Flooding (Streets and Yards)

Local flooding usually happens when it rains so fast that the storm sewers can't keep up. Our streets are actually designed to act as temporary "holding areas" for this extra water until the pipes can clear it away.

  • City Responsibility: If a street floods because of a broken pipe, a blocked intake, or a collapsed drain, the City will investigate and fix it.
  • Private Responsibility: If water flows from one neighbor's yard into another, this is usually a private matter between property owners.

3. Groundwater and Basements

Sometimes basements flood even when it isn't raining. This is caused by high groundwater, which is common in the spring when snow melts. Because groundwater levels change from one yard to the next, property owners are responsible for maintaining their own sump pumps.

Critical Rule: Never connect your sump pump to the sanitary sewer (the drain for your sinks and toilets). This "extra" water overloads the city pipes and causes sewage to back up into homes. If possible, drain your sump pump into the city storm sewer or across your lawn.

4. Sanitary Sewer Backups

A backup happens when rain or groundwater leaks into sanitary sewer pipes, filling them up too quickly. This causes waste and water to push back up through your floor drains. If you suspect a backup, stop using your water immediately (don't flush or run the shower) and call Public Services right away.

How to Report a Problem

If you see active flooding, a blocked drain, or a sewer backup: