Description

This is partially a follow-up to my Issue ID 4873719 (slab of sidewalk is depressed (sunk) and needs to be replaced – tripping hazard).
And mainly a new concern about constant water on sidewalks in the area. In talking to the property owners behind us (7850 Marioak Drive, Elkridge, MD 21075), their neighbors at 7852 Marioak Dr. recently installed a high capacity sump pump which regularly sends a prodigious amount of water onto the driveway in front of their house, going downhill onto the driveway and sidewalk in front of 7850 Marioak and further onto the sidewalk fronting my house at 6484 Grommet Drive.
Concerns:
1) This is causing a breeding ground for mosquitos in the grassy areas behind and next to my property which are now constantly and thoroughly wet.
2) Anticipated ice on the driveway and sidewalk in the winter. We’ve lived in our house for 34 years and know how in the winter ice can form on the sidewalk, making it impassable. This sump pump discharge will make our neighbor’s driveway unusable and a huge section of sidewalk impassable for a large portion of the winter.
Solutions?
What can the owner of the sump pump do and what can we as concerned neighbors/adjacent property owners legally do? Can the owner break up the driveway and sidewalk to install a drain directly to the street?
This is a widespread issue throughout the neighborhood. Please look at the property at 6470 Grommet Drive which has a much longer-standing similar issue. Many walkers had had to avoid that sidewalk for years (summer and winter) by going into the street.