Basement Flooding in Des Moines? This City Program Could Help Pay for a Solution

After the amount of rain Des Moines has experienced this September, plenty of homeowners have learned an unpleasant lesson: a basement that has always stayed dry isn't necessarily a basement that will always stay dry.

Local plumbing companies have reported a surge in calls involving flooded foundations, backed-up floor drains and sump pump problems following the heavy rains. If you're a Des Moines homeowner who experienced basement water - particularly water backing up through a floor drain - there's a City program worth knowing about.

Des Moines Will Reimburse Up to $1,500

The City of Des Moines Private Property Protection Program reimburses qualifying property owners for 100% of eligible costs, up to $1,500, for certain improvements intended to help protect their property.

Qualifying projects currently include:

• Installing a new backwater valve
• Installing or redirecting a sump pump away from the sanitary sewer
• Disconnecting roof leaders/downspouts from the sanitary sewer

The property must be within the City of Des Moines, and the work must be performed by a licensed plumber.

We Actually Used This Program Ourselves

This isn't just a program we stumbled across online.

Several years ago, we had a home that experienced exactly the type of problem some Des Moines homeowners have faced during heavy rain.  The stormwater system became overwhelmed, and water began coming back up through a floor drain in the basement, causing damage to drywall, the furnace, washer and dryer personal belongings being stored in the basement. Afterward, we wanted to reduce the chance of it happening again. We used the City's Private Property Protection Program to help install a backwater valve.

A backwater valve is designed to prevent water or sewage from reversing direction through the sewer line and entering the home. In our case, we went through the City's program without any issues.

And after seeing what happened around Des Moines this September, we thought it was worth making sure other homeowners knew the program exists.

The Most Important Part: Apply Before Doing the Work

Don't have the work completed and then ask the City for reimbursement. The City requires an application, project description and itemized estimate before work begins. Once the project qualifies, the City issues a pre-approval letter. The approved work must then be completed by a licensed plumber with a plumbing permit. Afterward, you'll submit your invoice, proof of payment and other required documentation for reimbursement. The program currently applies to qualifying work completed before June 30, 2028, subject to the City's requirements and available funding. Most plumbers in the metro area are familiar with the program and likely have worked on it in the past. If you need a reference for a plumber, we're happy to help.

If Your Basement Flooded, Find Out Why

Not every wet basement has the same cause. Water can seep through foundations, overwhelm sump systems or back up through sewer lines and floor drains.

So before assuming you need a particular fix, have the source of the water identified.  But if a plumber determines that a backwater valve, sump pump change or another qualifying improvement makes sense for your property, check this program before authorizing the work.

We used it ourselves, and with the basement flooding Des Moines has experienced this year, it's a homeowner resource worth knowing about.

→ Check eligibility and apply through the City of Des Moines Private Property Protection Program.