What to Do When Sewage Backs Up
Keep everyone away from the sewage
Keep children and pets away from sewage, and stay off wet floors near outlets, cords, or appliances. Stop using water: no flushing, showers, laundry, or dishwasher, because every drain in the building empties into the same sewer line. Do not touch an electrical panel or equipment standing in water, and wash well after any contact.
Stop the damage from spreading
Lift belongings off the floor near the backed-up drain. Skip chemical drain openers, and never loosen a cleanout cap while sewage is pushing up.
Call for sewer line help
Tell the plumber which drains backed up, when it started, whether it followed heavy rain, and whether other units are affected. Most Elizabeth sewers carry stormwater and sewage in one pipe, so a downpour can push water back toward low drains. Renters should tell the owner or manager.
Elizabeth gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year, so a rain-linked backup can return. See the sewer backup emergency page or call the referral line.
Keep children and pets away from sewage, and stay off wet floors near outlets, cords, or appliances. Stop using water: no flushing, showers, laundry, or dishwasher, because every drain in the building empties into the same sewer line. Do not touch an electrical panel or equipment standing in water, and wash well after any contact.
Stop the damage from spreading
Lift belongings off the floor near the backed-up drain. Skip chemical drain openers, and never loosen a cleanout cap while sewage is pushing up.
Call for sewer line help
Tell the plumber which drains backed up, when it started, whether it followed heavy rain, and whether other units are affected. Most Elizabeth sewers carry stormwater and sewage in one pipe, so a downpour can push water back toward low drains. Renters should tell the owner or manager.
Elizabeth gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year, so a rain-linked backup can return. See the sewer backup emergency page or call the referral line.