Hi all,

Due to recent heavy rains, the drain in my backyard doesn't empty quickly enough and result ends up being the water backflows (?) through my shower in the basement. Used to be the toilet but the shower there is now at a lower level than the toilet.

So, my question is... the downspout for the roof gutter currently runs into the drain that is right by my basement door. Can I divert that downspout out to my backyard? My dad is telling me it might be a city violation (nyc) to do so.

Thanks for any info!

Something is very wrong with this picture. Your downspout should not be even remotely connected to your sewer. If I'm understanding your situation you already have a code violation here. Am I understanding your situation correctly, downspout goes into the sewer?

Would it be considered the sewer?

My backyard has steps leading down to the basement door. There's a drain there. The downspout goes into the same area.

This was how it was when we bought it and looking at the neighbors houses next to mine (all built in the same fashion), their downspouts go into the same area.

But, like I mentioned above.. I do want to redivert the downspout so it goes out into the backyard/garden area instead of the drain area. Just not sure if that was legal.. or that should have been the case to begin with!

Thanks.

"Would it be considered the sewer?"

Of course it's connected to the sewer if it's backing up in your shower

"my question is ... the downspout for the roof gutter currently runs into the drain that is right by my basement door. can i divert that downspout out to my backyard? my dad is telling me it might be a city violation (nyc) to do so."

In my area you would be cited for a connection such as you described. YOU MAY NOT discharge ANYTHING but sewage and gray water into the sewer system. There's a reason for this. The utilities company has to process the rain water just the same as solid sewage. And you wonder why your utility bill's so high! Divert the downmspout out to your back yard. Good luck, Tom