Fort Loramie is a place people give directions to by landmark: the lake, the canal, the old church. If your plumbing fails here, the useful starting point is simpler. Is the water coming from a pipe, a drain or the ground? Shut the main valve if a pipe is the source, and call (855) 575-2890. Dispatch is open around the clock.
We drive in from Sidney to handle burst pipes, hidden leaks, clogged drains and sump pumps. The village runs a sewer collection system and the Health Department regulates household septic systems, so one early question we ask is which one your home uses.
That answer changes who you call about permits, how we clear a drain and what we avoid. The rest of this page walks through the village by place, then by problem.
Around the lake, down the old canal route
Lake Loramie State Park covers 913 acres and was built as a reservoir for the Miami-Erie Canal, which came through town in 1841. St. Michael's Catholic Church was completed in 1851. Redskin Memorial Park holds the village wells, and the village office is at 14 Elm St.
Those places matter to a plumber for a plain reason. Land near the lake takes in water fast after heavy rain, and basements close to it have flooded before. The same storm can produce very different calls on different streets, so describe your own street when you phone.
Problems we meet from the lake to the village center
Hidden leaks near wet ground
A wet spot on the floor in a house near the lake can come from the lake-side water table or from a pipe. Leak detection tells the two apart. Emergency dispatch is available around the clock.
Drains and septic-side clogs
A drain that slows may be a household trap issue or a sign of a full septic system. Our drain cleaning visit starts with that question.
Sump pump failures
After a lake-area storm, a pump that will not run needs a quick sump pump repair before the next rain.
Burst pipes in cold weather
Pipes in unheated spaces split when they freeze. Burst pipe repair starts with the shutoff.
Water heaters in every era of house
Water heater repair handles leaks, thermostats and elements for the village's mix of houses.
Flood days: July 2003 and June 2015
On 8 July 2003, the National Weather Service recorded flash flooding that put about 100 homes near Lake Loramie under water and led to evacuations near Fort Loramie. On 17 June 2015, high water closed Fortman Road, Brun Drive and Eilerman Road in the village.
If you live near the lake, those dates are a good reason to check your sump pump before storm season. They are also a reason to keep your main shutoff easy to reach. A road closure means a plumber may need to approach by another route, so give the dispatcher your street and a second way in.
Shut the main if a pipe is the source, then call. We answer at any hour.
Before we reach your door in Fort Loramie
One. Water off
Close the main shutoff by turning it clockwise. If the lake side is flooding from outside, there may be nothing to close, so go to step two.
Two. Power off
Turn off breakers to wet rooms only if the panel is dry. If it is not, stay out and call 911.
Three. Space clear
Pull rugs and stored boxes away from the water, and keep children and pets out of any sewage.
Four. Dial
Call (855) 575-2890 and tell the dispatcher if the home is on village sewer or a septic system.
Village sewer or septic: who handles what
Homes here are on one of two kinds of system. The table shows how the call changes.
| Your home uses | Who looks after the system | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Village sewer | Village maintains the gravity collection lines and a lift station | Clear or repair your lateral on the property side |
| Private septic | Health Department permits and inspects household systems | Clear indoor drains and flag a full tank |
| Not sure | Ask the village office at 937-295-3088 | We check cleanouts and the line path |
Septic repairs need a registered contractor and a permit through the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department.
Two wells, two towers and a plant on Canal Road
The village draws water from two wells, each 325 feet deep, in Redskin Memorial Park. The aquifer is confined and rated low for susceptibility. Two towers hold 100,000 and 500,000 gallons, and the 2025 report lists chlorine and fluoride at 1.76 ppm.
Sewage from the north-end lift station goes to the Shelby County Sewer District plant on Canal Rd. Hardness is not stated, so test your tap if you notice scale.
What the housing numbers suggest
A small census survey estimates a median build year of 1982 in the village, with roughly half of the 550 housing units dating before 1980. Treat that as a small-village estimate, not a rule for your block.
Older pipe wears out in its own way, and a plumber's visit settles what is in your walls faster than a statistic. For neighbors, our crews also reach Botkins and Anna.
Common questions
Do you cover every ZIP code in Fort Loramie?
Fort Loramie uses one ZIP, 45845, which covers the village and the Lake Loramie side. We dispatch there from Sidney, to the east. If your address is close to the edge, give us the road name and we will confirm.
Is emergency service available in Fort Loramie?
Yes. The line is open around the clock, including nights, weekends and holidays. Tell us whether the water is coming from a pipe, a drain or the ground, and we will say what to do while the crew drives out from Sidney.
Is my house on village sewer or septic?
Ask the village office at 937-295-3088, or look for a cleanout and a septic tank lid in the yard. The Health Department regulates household septic systems, so it can also help identify your system.
Do I need a permit for plumbing work here?
Plumbing permits go through the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department at 937-498-7249. The village Zoning Enforcement Officer, at 937-295-3088 ext. 102, handles zoning only, so ask both about your job.
What if the road to my house is flooded?
Tell the dispatcher before we leave Sidney. Roads near the lake have closed in past storms, and a second route into the village may save time. Do not wade through standing water to meet us.
Can a clogged drain be a septic problem?
Yes. If several drains slow at once, or the lowest fixture gurgles, the tank or the field may be full. We can clear indoor lines and tell you if a septic contractor is the right next call.