Sewage backup cleanup in Olympia, WA is not a job for towels and a fan. Sewage, sometimes called black water, carries bacteria, viruses and other contaminants, and anything porous it touches is usually thrown away. Through our referral line (opening soon), you can be connected with an independent restoration company that removes the contaminated water and materials, cleans and sanitizes the area and then dries what remains.
Common causes of sewage backups
- Blocked side sewer. Roots, grease and wipes build up in the pipe between the house and the street.
- Older pipes. Clay and cast-iron sewer lines in older homes crack, sag or let roots in.
- Heavy rain. Storm water getting into sewer lines can overload them during long wet spells.
- Septic problems. Many rural homes in south Thurston County use septic systems, which can back up when the drainfield is saturated or the tank is full.
- Toilet overflows from a blockage in the home's own drain line.
Who treats the wastewater here
Wastewater from Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater is treated by the LOTT Clean Water Alliance, a partnership of the three cities and Thurston County. The public sewer mains are maintained by the local city. If neighbors are having the same problem, or water is coming up through floor drains during heavy rain, call your city's utility department so it can check the main.
What to do right away
- Stop using water: no flushing, showers, laundry or dishwashers until the line is cleared.
- Keep children and pets away from the area.
- Turn off the HVAC system if it could pull air from the affected rooms.
- Do not use household vacuums or fans on the area. They can spread contamination.
- Photograph the backup and the drain it came from.
- Call a plumber or your city utility to clear the blockage, and a restoration company for the cleanup.
How professional sewage cleanup works
Restoration crews follow stricter procedures for black water than for a clean-water leak. A typical job includes:
- Containment. Plastic sheeting and controlled airflow keep contamination from spreading to clean rooms.
- Protective equipment for the crew, including respirators, gloves and suits.
- Removal. Sewage is extracted. Carpet, pad, insulation and drywall it soaked are cut out and bagged for disposal.
- Cleaning and sanitizing of floors, framing and other hard surfaces.
- Drying with dehumidifiers and air movers once the area is clean.
- Final check with moisture readings before rebuild.
Crawl spaces and basements
Sewage that leaks from a broken drain line under the house can soak the soil and vapor barrier in the crawl space without anyone noticing until the smell reaches the rooms above. Basements with floor drains are vulnerable when the line backs up. In both places, contaminated soil, plastic and insulation are usually removed. See our crawl space and flooded basement pages.
Insurance notes
Many standard policies exclude water that backs up through a drain unless a water or sewer backup endorsement was added. If you have it, the cleanup and the damaged materials may be covered up to the endorsement limit. Our Washington insurance guide covers what to ask.
Book a sewage cleanup visit
To reach a restoration company, email info@olympiawaterdamagewa.com while our phone line is being set up. Say where the sewage came from, how far it spread and whether it reached carpet, walls or the crawl space.
Common questions
Can I clean up a small sewage backup myself?
A small overflow on a hard, non-porous floor can sometimes be cleaned with gloves, boots and disinfectant. If sewage reached carpet, drywall, insulation or a crawl space, or if anyone in the home is very young, elderly or has a weak immune system, a professional cleanup is the safer choice.
Who fixes the sewer line, the city or me?
It depends where the blockage is. Lines inside your property are generally the owner's responsibility, and the public main in the street is the city's. Call your city utility if several homes are affected or the backup seems to come from the street, and a plumber for blockages in your own line.
Is sewage backup covered by homeowners insurance?
Often only if you added sewer or water backup coverage, which many insurers sell as an optional endorsement. Without it, a backup through a drain may be excluded. Check your policy for words like water backup or sewer backup, and ask your agent about the coverage limit.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source before you rely on them.