May 12, 2014: the flash flood that still shapes basement calls
The National Weather Service recorded flash flooding across Summit County on May 12, 2014. Munroe Falls had numerous homes with sewer backups 6 to 7 feet deep in basements, along with water rescues. Gauges in the Stow area logged 4 to 4.5 inches of rain in about an hour and a half, and about 1,000 Summit County homes had water damage, mostly in basements.
The lesson for a homeowner is practical. A basement here can fill from below through a floor drain even when the roof and gutters are fine. A working sump pump and a backwater valve on the sewer line are the two pieces of hardware that decide how a storm night goes, and an emergency call at 2 a.m. is when most people learn which ones they lack.
Emergency dispatch around the clock
The 24/7 line covers Munroe Falls on a stormy Saturday night the same as a quiet weekday. A dispatcher takes the address and the problem and arranges a licensed plumber.
A city that borders Stow
Munroe Falls shares a school system with Stow, and Adell Durbin Park sits on the border between the two.
Low ground near the river
The town grew around the Cuyahoga River, where a log dam went in during 1817. Low spots near the river are the ones to watch for drainage trouble after heavy rain.
One ZIP code
Munroe Falls uses 44262. If your address sits near the edge of town, the dispatcher confirms the service area by street address.
If water is rising or a pipe has let go in your Munroe Falls basement
Shut off the main water
Turn the main valve clockwise, usually near the meter or where the line enters the basement wall. This stops a burst pipe or failed water heater from adding to the flood.
Kill power to the wet area
If water reaches outlets, a furnace or a panel, do not wade in. Switch off power only from a dry spot, or leave it for the utility or an electrician.
Clear the area
Move people and pets upstairs. Keep children away from sewer backup water.
Call the 24/7 line
Call (855) 575-2890 and tell the dispatcher whether the water is clean supply water or came up from a drain. That one detail changes which plumber and tools we send.
If you smell gas, leave the building first. Call 911 or the gas utility from outside before you phone a plumber, and do not use switches or phones inside.
County line or private lineSewer backup in a storm: who owns the blockage
Sewer service in Munroe Falls comes from the Summit County sanitary sewer department. The county's backup page says backups caused by extreme weather, private lateral obstructions or non-flushable items are not a justifiable claim. It does not say who owns the lateral, so ask the county where its responsibility ends.
That makes the first hour of a backup a sorting job. A plumber runs a drain camera down the cleanout to see whether the stoppage is in your own lateral or out in the main. If it is in the main, call the county's after-hours line, 330-926-2400 ext. 1. If it is on your side, sewer line cleaning with a cable or jetter is the usual fix, and the camera footage shows what you are dealing with.
Hardware that mattersSump pumps, backwater valves and drainage on low lots
Not every wet basement is a sewer problem. Groundwater and surface runoff can seep through the footing or the slab, and that is a job for a sump pump and sometimes for basement waterproofing. A sump pit should discharge to the yard or a storm drain, never to the sanitary sewer.
A backwater valve is different. It sits in the sewer line and closes when flow reverses, which is the exact failure that filled basements here in 2014.
| What you see | Likely source | First plumbing step |
|---|---|---|
| Water rising from a floor drain | Sewer backup | Stop using drains, camera the lateral |
| Water seeping at the wall base after rain | Groundwater or runoff | Check the sump pit and pump |
| Spray or steady flow from a pipe | Supply line break | Shut off the main, then call |
| Pump runs nonstop | High water table or stuck float | Test float and check valve |
Water in the basement right now?
Call the 24/7 line and a dispatcher will arrange a licensed plumber for your Munroe Falls address.
Munroe Falls does not issue plumbing permits, Stow does
Munroe Falls issues only zoning permits, through Public Works at 43 Munroe Falls Avenue, 330-688-7491. Building, electrical, HVAC and plumbing permits for Munroe Falls come from the City of Stow's building department, after Munroe Falls zoning approval. Stow Building and Engineering takes calls at 330-689-2729 and holds plumbing inspections Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
The office that permits plumbing in Munroe Falls is in Stow, the same city as our dispatch address. Permit rules vary by job, so ask the Munroe Falls zoning office and the City of Stow Building Department before work starts.
BillsA high bill in Munroe Falls has two sources to check
The city bills water and stormwater monthly through the Water Division at 43 Munroe Falls Avenue, 330-688-7491, open Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Summit County bills sewer quarterly, based on your water use.
Before you assume a leak, read the meter with every fixture off and watch whether it keeps moving. If it does, a leak detection visit with listening gear and a pressure test can find the line.
Water supplyCuyahoga Falls water, and what it means for your fixtures
Munroe Falls buys its water from the City of Cuyahoga Falls, which pulls groundwater from wells in Water Works Park, according to the city's 2024 report. Munroe Falls distributes it but does not treat it. The report lists hardness at 120 to 140 ppm.
Partly softened groundwater means less scale than harder surface-water towns. If you are weighing a softener or checking a water heater with water heater repair, read the city's current report first. Our Cuyahoga Falls page covers the source of that water. Neighbors in Tallmadge or Hudson have their own pages.
QuestionsQuestions Munroe Falls callers ask us
Munroe Falls issues only zoning permits. The City of Stow's building department issues the plumbing permit for Munroe Falls after zoning approval, and it holds plumbing inspections Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Permit rules vary by job, so ask the Munroe Falls zoning office and the City of Stow Building Department before work starts.
Yes. The 24/7 emergency line covers Munroe Falls around the clock, including nights, weekends and storm nights. A dispatcher takes your address and the problem and arranges a licensed plumber.
Munroe Falls uses one ZIP code, 44262, which is the city's own mailing address. For addresses near the edge of town, the dispatcher confirms the service area by street address.
It depends where the blockage is. The county's backup page says backups caused by extreme weather, private lateral obstructions or non-flushable items are not a justifiable claim.
A plumber can camera the lateral and show whether the stoppage is yours or in the main. If it is in the main, the county's after-hours line is 330-926-2400 ext. 1.
They do different jobs. A sump pump handles groundwater and runoff, and a backwater valve closes when sewer flow reverses. A plumber can check what your basement already has.
Check both bills. Munroe Falls bills water and stormwater monthly, and Summit County bills sewer quarterly from water use. Read the meter with all fixtures off to see if it moves, and call if it does.
A dripping faucet can usually wait for a same-day appointment when available. Call the 24/7 line for active flooding or a water heater leaking onto the floor.