How bad is the water? A Somerdale storm scale
Use this before you call. It tells you what you can handle and what needs a crew tonight.
Damp, no standing water
Run a dehumidifier and check the sump pit. Schedule a visit this week if the pit looks slow.
Pit full, pump cycling hard
Keep the pump running and clear anything blocking the discharge. Book a same-day visit if it keeps up.
Water on the floor
Shut the main valve if the water is from a pipe, kill power only if it is safe, and call the 24/7 line.
Sewage at a floor drain or toilet
Stop using water in the house, keep everyone away from the drain and call the emergency line now.
Somerdale, NJ: the Cooper River runs through the problem
The Camden County hazard mitigation plan (draft) says the Cooper River divides Somerdale from Voorhees. It lists homes along Osage Avenue and Hartner Avenue backing onto the river, and homes and businesses along Kennedy, Maiden, Parkview, Cedar and Juniper Avenues that also back onto it.
The same plan names the Somerdale Road bridge over the Cooper River as a repeat problem spot. It records flooding up to 36 inches on the 200 block of West Maiden Lane, and parts of Route 30 near the 500 block of South White Horse Pike that flood. It also notes that storm-drain capacity is limited, so heavy rain can pond on a street even away from the river.
If your lot backs onto the river, a groundwater-fed basement is a normal risk, not a freak event.
Source type: Camden County hazard mitigation plan (draft)Spring and summer storms: the first hour
Thunderstorms push the river up fast. This is the order that protects the most.
- 01
Check the sump pit
If the water is within a few inches of the top, make sure the pump is plugged in and the float moves freely.
- 02
Look at the discharge
The outlet pipe should carry water well away from the house and not ice up or be blocked by leaves.
- 03
Move what can float
Lift boxes, the dryer and electronics off the floor. A water heater that sits in the water is a hazard, so tell us about it.
- 04
Call before it peaks
A pump that fails at 2 a.m. is much harder to fix once the floor is wet. Our sump pump crew handles after-hours calls.
A pump that runs constantly is not always healthy. It may be short-cycling because of a stuck float or a failed check valve.
Why a built-out borough still gets wet
The county annex describes Somerdale as about 97 percent built out, mostly through redevelopment. That leaves few open lots to soak up rain, so water goes to the storm drains, the basements or the river.
Redevelopment can leave old plumbing tied to new work, and nobody can see that from the street. If your drain cleaning needs repeat, ask for a camera look.
Kennedy Boulevard, where Borough Hall sits, and the parks at Kennedy Boulevard Field, Perry Memorial Park and Red Fox Run give a sense of how close open ground and homes sit to the Cooper River corridor.
Before we arrive at your Somerdale home
Do these while the emergency crew is on the way.
Close the main valve
If the water comes from a pipe, turn the main valve clockwise. For river water or sewage, this step will not stop it, so skip ahead.
Stay away from electrics
Do not step into standing water to reach a panel. If water is at outlet height, leave the room and tell us.
Clear a path
Move furniture from the basement door and the sump pit so the crew can work.
Call (855) 575-2890
Give your street and say if the water is clean, dirty or sewage. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 first.
Winter and spring thaw: pipes and drains
Cold snaps hit different parts of a Somerdale house.
| Problem | Where to look | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen supply pipe | Exterior wall, garage or unheated crawl space | Thaw safely, then burst pipe repair if it split |
| Water heater stops heating | Cold basement or utility closet | Test the burner, thermostat and element, then repair or replace |
| Slow drain after thaw | Main line near the street | Cable the line and camera it if it clogs again |
| Hidden leak after pressure change | Slab, wall or yard service line | Meter test and leak detection |
Never use an open flame to thaw a pipe. Heat from a hair dryer or heat tape is slower and much safer.
Water, permits and nearby towns
Somerdale is in New Jersey American Water's franchise territory. Replacing a water heater with one of like capacity is minor work, so notice goes to the enforcing agency, and licensed persons must do the plumbing. For other jobs, ask the Somerdale Construction Office, which offers a plumbing technical section on its application.
We also serve Lindenwold and Gibbsboro, so if you are near the borough line, the same crew can come.
Sources and references
The points above draw on these public standards, codes and guidelines. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the agency or utility named before you rely on them.
- New Jersey American Water: published water quality report (Delaware system) and Camden County service territory information
- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: Construction Code Communicator, Winter 2018
- NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers FAQ (N.J.S.A. 45:14C-1)
- Camden County Hazard Mitigation Plan: municipal annexes (2021 public-review drafts)
- New Jersey American Water: lead service line replacement information
Common questions
Somerdale uses ZIP 08083, which it shares with neighboring Hi-Nella addresses, and we cover all of it. We also serve 08043 across the Cooper River in Voorhees, 08045 in Lawnside and 08021 for Lindenwold and Clementon, all nearby. If you are not sure which ZIP you are in, give us your street.
Yes. The 24/7 emergency line takes Somerdale calls at night, on weekends and on holidays, and we book same-day visits when available. Call (855) 575-2890 and tell us if water is clean, dirty or coming from a drain.
The county plan lists Osage Avenue, Hartner Avenue and several other streets as backing onto the river. A battery or water-powered backup keeps the pit working when storms knock out power. It is worth discussing, but it does not replace a healthy main pump.
The county plan records the Somerdale Road bridge at the Cooper River as a problem spot that floods several times a year. That is a road issue, but nearby basements often get the same groundwater. Check your pump before storms.
Stop running water, keep people and pets away, and call the emergency line. We clear the blockage and then camera the line so you know if it is the main or a branch. Do not use a plunger on a floor drain that is overflowing.
A like-for-like replacement is minor work, and the enforcing agency must be notified. Licensed persons must do the plumbing. Ask the Somerdale Construction Office about anything beyond that.