The clear water rule
Mendota Heights Ordinance 496 bans clear water discharge into the sanitary sewer, and the city adds a quarterly surcharge for violations. A citywide sump pump inspection program ran in 2016 to find illegal connections.
If your pump, a floor drain or a downspout feeds the sanitary line, you can be paying the surcharge. We reroute discharges outdoors. See sump pump for failed pumps and basement waterproofing for groundwater.
Common calls across the city
These come up most often in Mendota Heights homes.
Sump pumps in spring
Thaw and heavy rain fill pits and expose failed pumps.
Sewer service lines
The owner is responsible for the sewer service to the main. Roots and age drive calls.
Water heaters
Water from St. Paul Regional Water Services still leaves some scale, and tanks age.
Basements near the lakes
Rogers Lake, Lake Augusta and Lake Le May are local landmarks. Ask us to check drainage and the pit if your basement is damp.
Water and permits at a glance
Facts the city and SPRWS publish.
| Topic | What applies | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply | St. Paul Regional Water Services, chloramine | Utility report |
| Hardness | About 6.25 grains per gallon in the November 2025 mineral report | Utility report |
| Domestic water permits | Issued by SPRWS at 651-266-6270 | Utility |
| Other plumbing permits | Through the city's inspection contractor, Inspectron | City |
| Housing age | About 43 percent built before 1970 | City planning |
A lower share of old homes than South St. Paul means fixtures and heaters are a bigger share of calls.
Before We Arrive
Quick steps that help.
Parks, lakes and roads we pass
Our crews know the city's layout, from Pilot Knob and Oheyawahe at 2100 Pilot Knob Road to the 17 city parks. City Hall is at 1101 Victoria Curve. Mendota Heights does not border South St. Paul, so we say nearby and not next door, and we confirm arrival times when you call.
For neighboring service, see West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights.
Where we answer calls in Mendota Heights
What affects pricing in Mendota Heights
Local factors that move the quote.
Insurance often excludes sump pump failure and groundwater unless you add a water backup endorsement. Ask your carrier.
Calls we get from Mendota Heights homes
The most frequent calls from the area are sump pumps that stop in spring, water heaters that fail and sewer service lines clogged by roots. Because the owner is responsible for the sewer service to the main, a main-line clog is the owner's repair.
We also help owners check their pits and downspouts against the clear water ordinance. A quick look at where the pump discharges can prevent a surcharge. We answer every call on the 24/7 line.
Sources for this page
Ordinance 496 and the sump inspection program come from the City of Mendota Heights. Water supply details come from St. Paul Regional Water Services. Plumbing work follows Minnesota Rules chapter 4714 and the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Questions people ask
We serve Mendota Heights, MN, including ZIP codes 55118 and 55120. Call with your address and we will confirm.
Yes. Our 24/7 line serves Mendota Heights day and night, and we book same-day appointments when available.
It bans clear water discharge into the sanitary sewer in Mendota Heights, with a quarterly surcharge. Check the city's current terms.
The owner is responsible for the sewer service to the main.
SPRWS issues domestic water plumbing permits at 651-266-6270.
We confirm the time when you call. The city does not border South St. Paul, so we give you a real estimate on the phone.