Sewer emergencies can be caused by a variety of reasons including sewer pipes blocked by grease or other substances, or natural disasters such as earthquakes. Sewer backups and overflows can cause serious health hazards, threaten the environment, as well as cause significant property damage.

Think Before You Flush!

👉 Click here to learn what you can do to protect your home, family or business. 

Sewer Backup

1. If there is significant sewage flow coming up out of the drain continuously into the building AND you are not running any water (i.e., dishwasher, clothes washer, shower, water softener, etc.), the sewer main is plugged. Call your Sewer District IMMEDIATELY!
2. If the sewage flow coming up our of the drain is small, intermittent or just slow to drain, the sewer lateral from the main sewer line is probably plugged. The upstairs toilets, sinks, dishwashers and other fixtures will flood the downstairs. Make sure no water is running in the building. DO NOT USE ANY INDOOR PLUMBING. You will need to call an independent contractor to clean your sewer lateral out.
3. If water from your indoor plumbing (toilets, sinks, dishwashers etc.) will not go down the drain, the sewer lateral to the building is plugged. You will need to call an independent contractor to clean your sewer lateral out.

Earthquake Or Other Natural Disaster

1. Check all drains to make sure that nothing is coming up through the drain.
2. Flush the toilet or run some water down your sink. Then check your floor drains to make sure that nothing is coming up through them.
3. If everything is fine, you can use all indoor plumbing, but be very conservative in your usage until you know if all sewer lines are working properly. Your sewer line may be fine, but there may be a sewer pipe ruptured down the road from you. If that were the case, using your plumbing may result in sewage problems in other areas of your neighborhood.
4. Listen to the radio for other emergency details.
5. If sewage flow is coming up through your drain or if your water will not go down, follow the instructions above for sewer backup.

Sewer Odors From Floors Drains

It must always be assumed that dangerous gasses are present in the public sewer system, Floor drains, sinks, and other fixtures have goosenecks and p-traps designed to form a water plug. The water plug prevents odors and dangerous gases from entering building from the sewer system. The traps in floor drains and sometimes showers, sinks, etc. which receive very little use can dry out. This allows gasses from the sewer to enter the building. These gases can be toxic, explosive or both.

To maintain the liquid seal, you should routinely (every six months) pour about a pint of mineral oil or RV antifreeze into basement floor drains and other fixtures that are seldom used. If odors persist or strong odors are encountered call your Sewer District for assistance.