Sewer Backups

The unfortunate circumstance of a sewer backup is a situation that must be dealt with in a very careful manner. If not handled properly, health and safety problems can occur, as well as significant property loss.

The City of Livonia continually maintains and repairs the public sewer system to keep it in good working condition, thus reducing the potential for backups. While sewer backups may occur for a number of reasons, they are usually caused by internal plumbing problems in the home, and in rare cases, the public sewer line.

If a backup occurs it is never pleasant and can be very frustrating and stressful. The following information is intended as a reference to help protect you and your family from the hazards of raw sewage in your basement, to offer practical methods for proper sanitation of your home and its contents, and to provide phone numbers where you can receive additional information and advice. A quick, proper response will go a long way toward limiting the possibility of long-term health effects and property damage.

How Sewer Backups Occur

Sewer backups vary from clean water to raw sewage that causes contamination and may discolor exposed items. Causes for water in basements include:

Storm Water Seeping in Walls, Floors or Windows

This is normally due to inadequate drainage or grading around a home, malfunctioning sump pumps, gutters or footing drains.

Sewer Backups Through the Basement FLOOR Drain

Backups may result from a variety of conditions, most commonly, heavy rain events. When excess water overloads the sewer because of blockages caused by grease, debris, tree roots, or collapses, a sewer backup may occur. Sometimes the private home’s sewer service line or internal sewer plumbing is in such poor condition that a backup will occur when a toilet is flushed, or a load of laundry is washed.

First Steps if You Have a Backup

Call the City of Livonia Department of Public Works Water & Sewer Division at (734) 466-2650, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If it is after hours that you have a backup and you believe it may be related to a blockage of the main city sanitary sewer, contact the Livonia Police Department at (734) 466-2470.
We will dispatch a maintenance crew to your address to determine if the backup is in the City’s main or your private line (sewer lateral). If a blockage is found in the City sewer, the Water and Sewer Division will perform any cleaning or repair to that line as necessary. This work will be done as soon as possible and you will be kept informed about what is being done.
If the sewer main is found to be clear, it is then the responsibility of the property owner to call a licensed plumber or drain service to correct the problem to the private homes sewer system. The city cannot recommend any plumber. Check your Yellow Pages or Business White Pages. You may want to get more than one estimate from reputable plumbers and check their references.

Cleaning Up After Floods/Sewer Backups

Sewer backup can lead to disease, destruction of your valuables, damage to your house, and the risk of electrocution. Proper responses to sewer backups can greatly minimize losses from negative health effects and property damage. Every backup is unique and will require different responses but there are some universal principles that can be applied to all situations. Prompt cleanup of affected property can help minimize the inconvenience and damage.

Health and Safety Issues

Please be aware and keep in mind the risk of potential health and safety problems when addressing the cleanup of your home. Sewage and floodwaters contain bacteria, fecal material, viruses and other hazardous microorganisms, which can cause disease. These “germs” can be transmitted by touching contaminated items or by tracking them into uncontaminated areas on shoes. Children and pets are especially vulnerable. Odors from sewage backups are unpleasant but not harmful. The speedy removal and cleanup of sewer water are very important and necessary.

To protect yourself and your family during the cleanup, please follow these guidelines:

Avoid skin contact with sewer water, especially cuts and sores. Keep them clean and covered.
Disinfect all areas and equipment that came into floodwater contact with a solution of 8 tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach to a gallon of water. This is a very effective method of removing odors and bacteria. Bleach solutions are the most effective disinfectants but may cause discoloration of many materials.
Do not allow children to play in areas contaminated by sewage backup.
Do not eat or drink anything exposed to sewer water.
Do not mix chlorine bleach with ammonia. This combination produces poisonous gas!
If you should suffer a cut while working in flood or sewer water, contact your physician or the Health Department about receiving a tetanus shot.
Keep contaminated objects, water, and hands away from mucous membranes (mouth, eyes, and nose).
Wash hands frequently, especially after bathroom use, before eating, and immediately following contact with sewer water or contaminated objects/surfaces.

Do’s and Don’ts of Clean-Up

Because of the unsanitary nature of a sewer back up in the home, it is essential that all affected areas where the backup occurred be cleaned and disinfected as soon as possible. Generally, small household items that are affected or exposed to the sewage should be discarded. It is important to make a list of discarded items, and if possible, provide photographs for insurance purposes.

Appliances

All affected appliances should be inspected prior to putting them back into operation.

Many private companies can handle the cleanup for you. Check the Yellow Pages under the listing “Fire and Water Damage Restoration". Some companies will also inspect and repair major appliances (furnaces, water heaters, washers and dryers). If a private company is contracted to do cleaning and/or restoration, be sure to keep all receipts for insurance purposes.

Treatment of Rugs, Carpeting and Drapery

For smaller, lose rugs and wall-to-wall carpet installed on racks, in-plant cleaning is the best option. Germicidal and cleaning treatment has to be thorough. Both the carpet and the floor surface have to be completely cleaned and decontaminated.

Germicides used for this have to be effective even against the bacteria of the E-Coli family, which is present in contaminated sewage. For wall-to-wall carpets that are glued down, cleaning on-site may not be completely effective and in-plant cleaning may not be viable economically or practically. Contaminated padding is best discarded and should not be reused. Steam clean or dispose of drapes.

Clean-Up Tips

If you choose to clean up your property yourself, the following information is provided as a recommendation to assist with your cleanup efforts:

After the waters have receded, flush out and disinfect plumbing fixtures before resuming normal use.
Avoid flushing toilets or using other water connected to appliances or fixtures. The discharge from these items may back up into the basement.
The cleanup and drying of the basement should occur as quickly as possible to minimize mold and risk of problems.
Clean appliances and/or ductwork. If electric motors, wiring or insulation have been saturated, have a qualified service technician remove the motor, dry it, and inspect for damage before plugging it back in and turning it on.
Discard or properly wash and disinfect toys, clothing and other contaminated objects.
Do not attempt to stop the flow of sewer back up through the floor drain or any other sewer drain. Any added obstruction could cause serious damage to your household drainage system and possibly a catastrophic rupture of the household sewer drainage system.
Do not track sewage from the basement into the living areas of the house.
Do not use any electrical equipment while standing in water.
Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors; mildew and expanded water damage may result
If a dishwasher, washing machine, shower, bathtub, toilet or other water fixture is operating shut it off immediately.
If your basement walls are finished with drywall, all the areas contacted by water must be removed and disposed of within 24 hours. Once these items get wet, they retain moisture long enough to grow mold. Removing the wallboard also allows air to circulate around the wood studs so that they dry completely and will not need to be replaced.
Keep children and animals out of the affected area.
Move any uncontaminated property away from the affected areas.
Operate wet vacuums only when plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter or ground fault equipped outlet.
Potential health and safety hazards must be identified and eliminated prior to implementing cleaning or restoration procedures. Before entering the affected area the potential for electrical shock hazards and gas leaks must be assessed.
Remove and discard upholstered furniture and porous wood furniture stained by sewage.
Sanitize and clean hardwood furniture, then thoroughly wipe, dry and apply an oil-based wood polish.
Sanitize and repair, or remove and discard, paneling, wallboard or wall coverings.
Take before-and-after photos.
Treat all water soaked surfaces, furnishings and items as contaminated until properly cleaned & sanitized.
Turn off the gas (or other fuel sources) to your furnace or heater and hot water heater.
Unplug all electrical appliances, small electrical devices on the wet floor covering or other wet areas and turn off the circuit breakers supplying the electricity to affected areas.
Ventilate the affected area with floor fans and a dehumidifier, if available, to properly dry the area. If it has not been directly contacted by water, activate the building’s heating, ventilation and doors when conditions are favorable.
Wear protective clothing such as rubber boots, gloves and eye protection during cleanup and removal. To remove gloves turn them inside out, without touching the contaminated exterior. Dispose of them properly.
Wet-vacuum to remove spillage.

Public Act 222 - Sewer Backup Legislation

The State of Michigan passed a law, Act 222 of Public Acts of 2001, which clarifies when municipalities are liable for sewer backups. The Act sets standards to determine the extent to which a municipality is liable for backups and established a process that affected persons must follow to seek compensation when a backup occurs. Anyone making a claim for property damage or physical injury must prove that the public sewer had a defect.

In addition, it must be proven that the governmental agency knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known about the defect, and that the governmental agency having the legal authority to do so, failed to take reasonable steps in a reasonable amount of time to repair correct, or remedy the defect.

If you experience an overflow or backup of a sewage disposal system or stormwater system and intend to make a claim, you must file a written claim with the City of Livonia within 45 days after the overflow or backup is discovered. Claim forms may be obtained by calling the City of Livonia Sewer Division at (734) 466-2635.