Sewer Backup In Our Basement.

Doug_Scott · October 7, 2010

Everyone keeps saying sewer company. Up here the sewer company is the township (municipal government), are local sewers a private thing the USA? Up here all utilities (save for gas and electric) are local government.

kdixer · October 7, 2010

Everyone keeps saying sewer company. Up here the sewer company is the township (municipal government), are local sewers a private thing the USA? Up here all utilities (save for gas and electric) are local government.

In the states it is different based on what the local governments have setup. I lived in a small town in Virginia and we payed the town for electricity because a local factory generated enough to service the factory and the town.

Where I live now there are local government ran water facilities as well as privately owned facilities.

doverarjim · October 8, 2010

All of this is dependent upon the city you are in. I work for a Water/Wastewater Company, and I have done this for the last 26 years and thought that there is only one way to do this type of work but a few years ago I had a chance to visit with employees from about 150 different utilitiy companys and boy can the same job be done a bunch of different ways. So I will say that here in our city if sewer backs up in a customers home we will come out and find where the problem is either main line or customers service line, if it is main line we will clear the stoppage and then be gone. If it has backed up into your home it is your baby. That is what home owners insurance is for. After my sisters house burned I learned to pay the extra for replacement cost of home and contents instead of repair cost. Also most states have laws that the city's have tort immunity so you can not sue them. Sorry that this has happened but for the most part you are screwed.

jaslo · October 8, 2010

I really don't see how I am screwed. The blockage was in the main sewer line and the sewer is not city owned. Its owned by a individual company. Our subdivision has its own little treatment center and they have several of these treatments centers for different neighborhoods around the area. For them to come out and have it cleaned up and a insurance adjuster came out already, means to me that they are taking responsibility. Right now its a waiting game, so we'll see what happens.

limpalong · October 8, 2010

About a week ago, our basement was flooded with sewer water in our basement. It got to be about 1" in the garage and got the carpet wet in the finished part of the basement. We even had little pieces of toilet paper and _ _ _ _ in our garage! They sent Servpro to come out and decontaminate the basement, but basically our basement has been gutted. Now the insurance company is going to prorate the stuff we had in the basement and give us that amount and we will have to pay the rest. I think this is a bunch of crap.

Has anybody else ever dealt with this? Should we sue? I don't want to sue the sewer company for a million dollars, I just want my basement restored to back the way it was.

You have rec'd some extremely good answers. It does seem, in this case, your sanitary sewer system is privatized. Most of us live in municipalities who maintain their own systems. Over the past few years, many municipalities have sold/leased their systems to private operators. And, in the case of developments that are outside the municipalities limits, the water/wastewater systems are almost always private operaters.

As they say, "S*** happens!" I've worked in municipal wastewater for over 40 years. Have seen some well maintained systems. And... have seem some that can cause significant homeowner headaches and heartaches. Having your home contaminated with sanitary waste is not something to take lightly. The long term consequences may not be able to be seen. Your carpet, carpet pad, baseboards, lower inch or so of sheet rock, etc. have all absorbed this waste. The bacteria that is present in sewage can begin to grow within your walls and flooring. Mold, or worse, can result. As air moves through the home some really bad particles can be released from the contamination into the air you... and your family... breath. All sorts of "interesting" respiratory issues can result, depending on the immune system of the specific person. Some of these mold/contamination issue can take months to form.

The home needs decontaminated. There are some UV systems out there that can be brought in by a professional restoration contractor to make sure the bacteria is killed and the home is safe to inhabit. If you have children, don't take chances. Make sure they aren't breathing contaminants that could result in physical harm.

Also take into consideration the length of time you plan on living in the home. Most all home sales requre disclosure statements. You would, in most cases, need to disclose that you had a sewage backup. Depending on how the cleanup was handled could make a great difference in the effect it could have on the resale of your home. If you have certifications from a recognized restoration firm, that could mitigate the damages caused by a disclosure. If I were going to consider purchase of a home... and that home had had a significant sewer back up with no clean up... it would be a big deal for me.

In a nutshell, it is YOUR home and YOUR money. If it were mine, I would place a call to the sewer company and demand cleanup by a qualified and certified restoration company. If they refuse, I dislike attorneys but would begin making some phone calls. You should have no cost in this matter... IF the backup was caused by issues within the main and IF the main was located in a utility easement. From what you have indicated, this is the scenario. If, in fact, the clog was between the easement line and your home... it's yours to rectify. Either way... don't mess with the possibility of making you or your family suffer through some debilitating illness caused by what might be growing under the baseboard of your home.

Good luck!!!

erinbrockovich#2 · April 11, 2013

H E L P !!!!

I have had 5 public sewer overflows into my finished lower level and have no help in resolving the issues!!

I have had professional services come in to remove the sewage and dehumidifiers and disinfect the areas affected yet mold continues to grow on the insides of the closet doors and on the tile floor and the inside and outsides of the bathroom vanities!

I have no where to go and no one will help - Not the bank lending me the loan on my home mortgage nor the insurance company that has increased my premiums by 42% nor the lawyers who have taken the case a year and a half ago and have made no movement towards resolution other than to continually say "we are working on it"

Now what?!!!!

The one of 2 manhole covers on my property blew off and spewed public sewer 10-12 feet in the air and all over my wooded 1/2 acre lot....destroyed my above ground 28 x 52" pool and 20 x 10 pressure treated wooded deck!!!!!!

DEP stated the sewer authority has "done its job with spreading lime on the wooded area" and rebolting the manhole cover lid!!!!! This is a joke! NO ONE should be forced to live like this for no wrong doing of the homeower! Is there anyone who can help me???

I am at witts end.....