If your Hackensack home still has slow drains or basement backups, do not treat the Anderson Street sewer project as proof that your own pipes are clear. Start with what you have already noticed: which drains are affected, when the trouble happens, and whether it returns. Those details matter more to a home drain assessment than a public funding announcement.
The municipal improvements address a specific drainage area. They do not establish the condition of each home’s drains.
What the City says changed
In its May 14, 2026 Anderson Street project announcement, the City of Hackensack described work to separate rainwater drainage from wastewater piping in neighborhoods west of the railroad.
The City explained that combined sewers carry rainwater and waste in the same pipes, which can contribute to basement backups during heavy rain. It reported these improvements:
- More than 4,000 feet of new drainage culverts—large channels that carry water.
- About 7,000 feet of new wastewater piping.
- A new emergency backup generator at the Kennedy Pump Station, intended to keep the sewer system working during power outages.
- Diversion of rainwater from more than 22 acres through filtration units before it reaches the Hackensack River.
These are changes to public infrastructure. The announcement does not say that crews inspected or cleaned every home’s drain lines.
Which neighborhoods did the announcement cover?
The City identified the area between Central Avenue and Passaic Street, naming Clay Street, Railroad Avenue, Berdan Place, James Street, and Berry Street.
It also singled out Stanley Place for relief, describing its position at the edge of two major drainage areas as a reason it had been especially affected by rainstorms.
That scope matters. A project described for the Anderson Street Drainage Area should not be read as a citywide replacement of sewer pipes. If you want to know whether a particular property was included, ask the City to confirm the work serving that address rather than assuming that a nearby street name settles the question.
May 14 was a funding announcement, not a construction schedule
The May 14, 2026 release announced that Hackensack had secured $9.2 million in forgiven funding through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. It described nearly $13 million in infrastructure investment, with about $3.5 million to be repaid.
The release used past-tense wording for installed piping and the generator. It did not give a detailed construction start-and-finish schedule. Do not use the publication date as the date crews began work, completed your street, or changed your home’s connection.
The City presented the project as a way to reduce neighborhood flooding and improve sewer reliability. That is the City’s stated benefit—not a guarantee that every basement backup has been eliminated.
Does your home still need a separate assessment?
A public project announcement cannot diagnose an indoor drain problem. Mr. Rooter Plumbing’s residential drain-cleaning guidance explains that one slow fixture may point to a nearby drain issue, while recurring clogs, multiple slow drains, gurgling, or backups may indicate a deeper drain or sewer problem. It also notes that a video inspection may help identify the location and cause when needed.
Use those distinctions to describe the problem, not to choose a cleaning method yourself. Ask what findings support the recommended work and whether an inspection would help answer an unresolved question.
For trouble tied to rainfall, see our basement drain backup after heavy rain guidance. During an active backup, do not run other fixtures just to test the system. If water is near outlets or electrical equipment, stay clear and follow our guidance for basement water near an outlet.
Request service based on your home’s symptoms
Rooter Experts Drain Cleaning provides drain-cleaning service in Hackensack, NJ. When requesting an assessment, share the observations above, your town, and any relevant past drain work. Confirm service availability for your address.
Keep the two questions separate: what did the City improve, and what is causing the problem at your home? The municipal announcement helps answer the first. A property-specific assessment may still be needed for the second.
Talk with Rooter Experts
Call Rooter Experts at (201) 583-4778 for plumbing or drain service in Northern New Jersey.