Grinder pumps on Riviera Utilities (Foley): who owns, who repairs, who to call
Short answer
Homeowner owns everything on the customer's side of the shut-off valve. Riviera's handbook says Riviera and the City of Foley will not repair, replace or be responsible for it. Repair and replacement: any plumber, to Riviera's spec, with written approval of Riviera and the city for the connection. Alarm: not published; call a plumber.
Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley will not repair, replace or be responsible for a low pressure sewer system on the customer's side, so in Foley the grinder pump, its floats, panel, pipes, valves and tank are the homeowner's to maintain. The Sewer Policy Handbook says it in one sentence, quoted below.
Riviera's sewer service covers the City of Foley only, and every connection needs written approval from both Riviera and the city, which matters when a pump is replaced.
The rule at a glance
Ledger of Riviera Utilities- Who owns the pump
- Homeowner (everything on the customer's side of the shut-off valve)
- Who repairs it
- Homeowner arranges, with any plumber; Riviera and the City of Foley will not repair
- Who replaces it
- Homeowner arranges, to Riviera's specification, with written approval of Riviera and the City of Foley for the connection
- Who to call first on an alarm
- Not published; stop water use and call a plumber (Riviera office: (251) 943-5001)
“Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley will not repair, replace, or be responsible for the operation and maintenance of low pressure sewer systems on the customer's side of the service.”
Source: Riviera Utilities (sewer: City of Foley), published rule. Areas: City of Foley
The rule in Riviera Utilities' own words
Section 7.4 of the Sewer Policy Handbook: "The customer is responsible for the connection to the customer's side of the shut-off valve and for the entirety of the low pressure sewer system on the customer's side including, but not limited to, all pumps, floats, control panels, pipes, fittings, valves, tanks, power supply, solids removal, and all other appurtenances and incidentals." Source: www.rivierautilities.com/…
The same section closes the question of who fixes it: "Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley will not repair, replace, or be responsible for the operation and maintenance of low pressure sewer systems on the customer's side of the service."
Approval. "All low pressure sewer connections must be approved in writing by Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley." Riviera's Specification 407 for low pressure sewer adds: "The applicant shall provide, construct, operate, and maintain a low-pressure sewer pump system of a type and size acceptable to Riviera Utilities." Source: www.rivierautilities.com/…
What that means in practice
Riviera's handbook is the most complete ownership statement of any utility in Baldwin County. It lists the parts so there is no argument about a float or a panel.
- RepairYours, with any plumber. Riviera and Foley will not repair the customer side.
- ReplacementYours, with a pump that meets Riviera's specification. Riviera and Foley will not replace it.
- Installation or a new connectionThe applicant provides and constructs the system, and the connection must be approved in writing by both Riviera and the City of Foley before it is made.
- AlarmRiviera publishes no alarm instruction. Stop using water and call a plumber. Riviera's office number is (251) 943-5001 if you need to confirm your service.
What we do in Foley, and what we do not
Foley is open territory for a plumber: Riviera's handbook leaves the entire customer side to the homeowner, so we repair, replace and install grinder pumps there. Brandon Byrd, our owner, carries an Alabama master plumber license.
We build to Riviera's published specification and we treat the written approval from Riviera and the City of Foley as part of the job, not a formality to skip. We do not connect a pump outside the specification: Specification 407 says no other pump or pumping system may be connected without prior written authorization from both engineering departments, and we hold to that.
Approvals and permits
Riviera publishes one requirement for homeowners: written approval of each low pressure sewer connection by Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley. Other permit details, such as a city plumbing permit, are not published on Riviera's pages. Ask the City of Foley building department before a replacement, and ask Riviera's engineering department for the connection approval.
Riviera's specification for a residential grinder system
The handbook sets minimums for the tank and the power connection. "Tanks shall be a minimum of 150 gallons." And: "Must include a generator receptacle with a manual transfer breaker." The handbook also calls for a fiberglass tank, a 2 horsepower pump with a 1-1/4 inch discharge on 230 volts, and an audible alarm, and it accepts septic tank effluent pump (STEP) systems with a 1,000-gallon tank as an alternative.
The generator receptacle is worth noticing. It means a Foley grinder system is designed to run from a portable generator during an outage, which is the main reason a pump in Foley can keep working through a storm.
Where Riviera provides sewer
Riviera Utilities' sewer service is the City of Foley only. Homes outside the city limits that are on sewer are usually on Baldwin County Sewer Service, which has a different rule on who may install a pump. If your sewer charge does not appear on a Riviera bill, check with our lookup tool or call the utility that bills you.
Other utilities
Not on Riviera Utilities? The rule follows the utility, not the town.
- BCSSCity limits of Spanish Fort, Summerdale, Elberta, Silverhill and Perdido Beach, plus many unincorporated areas of Baldwin County including the Fort Morgan peninsula, Magnolia Springs, Point Clear and Lillian subdivisions
- Gulf Shores UtilitiesCity of Gulf Shores; parts of the Fort Morgan peninsula inside the city limits (address check needed)
- Fairhope UtilitiesCity of Fairhope and areas north of Fairhope; Point Clear is mixed with BCSS (address check needed)
- North Baldwin UtilitiesBay Minette and the northern area of Baldwin County, including Stockton where sewer exists
- MAWSSCity of Mobile and parts of Mobile County in MAWSS's sewer service area, including Tillmans Corner and the US-90 core of Theodore; not Prichard or Eight Mile; Semmes mixed
- South Alabama UtilitiesEffluent sewer subdivisions in the Citronelle and Semmes areas; Mobile County and part of Washington County
- Orange Beach sewerAll locations inside Orange Beach city limits and some county locations, including low-pressure lines to Ono Island and the Miflin Creek area
- Loxley utilitiesCity of Loxley; parts of the surrounding area are BCSS franchise territory (address check needed)
Questions people ask
Does Riviera Utilities own my grinder pump?
No. The Sewer Policy Handbook makes the customer responsible for the entire low pressure sewer system on the customer's side of the shut-off valve, including pumps, floats, control panels, pipes, valves and tanks.
Will Riviera or the City of Foley repair a grinder pump?
No. Section 7.4 of Riviera's handbook says Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley will not repair, replace or be responsible for the operation and maintenance of low pressure sewer systems on the customer's side.
Do I need approval to replace a grinder pump in Foley?
All low pressure sewer connections must be approved in writing by Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley, and no other pump may be connected without prior written authorization from both engineering departments. Get the approval before the work.
What size grinder pump does Riviera require?
The handbook calls for a fiberglass tank of at least 150 gallons, a 2 horsepower pump with a 1-1/4 inch discharge on 230 volts, an audible alarm, and a generator receptacle with a manual transfer breaker. STEP systems with a 1,000-gallon tank are also accepted.
Who do I call when a grinder pump alarm goes off in Foley?
Riviera publishes no alarm instruction, and the customer side is yours. Stop using water and call a plumber. Riviera's office number is (251) 943-5001 for questions about your service.
Sources and facts
- The customer is responsible for the entire low pressure sewer system on the customer's side of the shut-off valve, including all pumps, floats, control panels, pipes, fittings, valves, tanks, power supply, solids removal and appurtenances (Sewer Policy Handbook 7.4, file dated 2024-05). www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley will not repair, replace, or be responsible for the operation and maintenance of low pressure sewer systems on the customer's side of the service. www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- All low pressure sewer connections must be approved in writing by Riviera Utilities and the City of Foley. www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- Low pressure sewer connections installed without prior written approval may be required to be removed and/or replaced. www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- The applicant shall provide, construct, operate, and maintain a low-pressure sewer pump system of a type and size acceptable to Riviera Utilities (Specification 407, file dated 2026-06). www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- No other pumps or pumping system shall be connected to Riviera's sewer system without prior written authorization from Riviera's and the City of Foley's engineering departments. www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- Tanks shall be a minimum of 150 gallons; must include a generator receptacle with a manual transfer breaker. www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- Grinder spec: fiberglass tank, 2 hp, 1-1/4 in discharge, 230 V, audible alarm; STEP systems with a 1,000-gal tank also accepted. www.rivierautilities.com/… (read 2026-11-04)
- Riviera's sewer service is the City of Foley only; office phone (251) 943-5001. www.rivierautilities.com (read 2026-11-04)