What should I do right now if sewage is backing up?
Stop using water, keep everyone away from the sewage, and call your sewer agency. Those three steps limit the damage and may get the problem fixed at no cost.
- Stop all water use: no flushing, laundry, dishwasher or showers. The City of Lincoln asks residents to stop all water use when a sewer overflows (City of Lincoln).
- Keep children and pets out of the area. South Placer MUD notes owners may want to leave an affected living area until it's cleaned up (SPMUD).
- Don't pour chemical drain openers into standing water; Poison Control warns they can splash back and burn skin and eyes (Poison Control).
- Check the outdoor cleanout. Water standing in the property-line cleanout points to a blockage downstream, often on the public side.
- Call your sewer agency, even at night.
- Take photos before cleanup and save every receipt for an insurance claim (Triple-I).
Who do I call first after hours?
Call the agency that runs your sewer; many have 24-hour lines and will check their side of the pipe before you pay a plumber. SacSewer says 24/7 response is part of the monthly sewer rate, and its goal is to arrive within two hours (SacSewer). After-hours numbers listed by local agencies:
- SacSewer: (916) 875-6730
- City of Sacramento: 311
- South Placer MUD: (916) 786-8555, press 0 (SPMUD)
- City of Folsom: 916-461-6400
- El Dorado Irrigation District: (530) 622-4513
- City of Davis: police non-emergency, (530) 747-5400
- City of Lincoln: police, (916) 645-4040
- City of Woodland: 530-666-8920
- City of Galt: (209) 366-7000
- City of Placerville: police dispatch, (530) 642-5298
- Placer County sewer districts: 530-886-4913
What counts as a drain emergency?
Sewage coming into the house is an emergency; a single slow sink is not. Call right away if you see any of these:
- Sewage rising in a tub, shower or floor drain.
- A toilet overflowing with waste that won't stop.
- Every drain in the house blocked at once.
- Sewage flowing from a cleanout or manhole outside; SacSewer asks people to report these spills immediately.
Is it ever a 911 call?
Yes, if anyone is hurt or there's an immediate danger, such as water rising around electrical outlets, cords or appliances. Stay out of that water and call 911.
If you smell natural gas, don't assume it's the sewer. PG&E says to leave the area, avoid light switches and anything that could spark, call 911 from a safe distance, then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 (PG&E).
How much does emergency drain cleaning cost?
More than a weekday visit. HomeGuide says plumbers' after-hours emergency rates are often two to three times standard pricing, and most charge a $50 to $200 minimum call-out fee (HomeGuide). Those are national figures.
Ask for the total price, including any trip fee, before the plumber is dispatched. And call the agency first: if the blockage is in the public pipe, an after-hours plumber visit is money you didn't need to spend.
What about cleanup after a sewage backup?
Raw sewage is a health hazard, and HomeGuide says it contains dangerous bacteria, viruses and parasites that call for specialized cleanup. It puts professional sewage cleanup at $7 to $15 or more per square foot nationally (HomeGuide).
If the agency's pipe caused the backup, ask about its claims process. South Placer MUD, for example, says it will reimburse cleanup and repair costs it's legally responsible for. Check your homeowners policy too: Triple-I says many policies don't cover sewer backups unless you've added a sewer backup rider.
| Situation | First call | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sewage backing up into the house | Your sewer agency | Most check the public side free, day or night |
| Sewage spilling from a cleanout or manhole | Your sewer agency | Agencies need to stop spills fast |
| Agency says its side is clear | A plumber (call this line) | The blockage is in your private line |
| Water near outlets, cords or appliances | 911 | Shock risk; stay out of the water |
| Smell of natural gas | 911, then PG&E | Leave first; call from a safe distance |
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Frequently asked questions
Will my sewer agency pay for cleanup after a backup?
Should I call a plumber or the city first at night?
What should I tell the plumber when I call?
Sources
- What to Do if Your Sewer Backs Up — City of Lincoln Public Works
- Customer vs. SPMUD Responsibilities — South Placer Municipal Utility District
- Customer FAQs — South Placer Municipal Utility District
- What's in drain cleaner and what happens if you drink it? — Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center)
- Caution with caustics: Tips for preventing chemical burns — Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center)
- Drain cleaner poisoning — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Protect your house from sewer backups — Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I)
- Report a Sewer Problem — SacSewer (Sacramento Area Sewer District)
- Contact the Utilities Department (sewer problems and after-hours line) — City of Folsom
- Sewer Concerns and Customer Responsibility — El Dorado Irrigation District (EID)
- Sewer Backup Information — City of Davis Public Works Utilities and Operations
- City Service Requests (after-hours water and sewer emergencies) — City of Woodland
- Department Contact Information (after-hours sewer and water emergencies) — City of Galt
- Public Works Division FAQs — City of Placerville
- Sewer Services (Sewer problems? Call us first) — Placer County
- Customer Service (water, sewer and drain service requests: call 311) — City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
- Gas safety — PG&E
- How Much Does Drain Cleaning Cost? (2026) — HomeGuide
- How Much Does Sewer Backup Repair Cost? (2026) — HomeGuide
- How to protect your home from water damage — Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I)