If sewage backs up into your home, stop using all water and drains, keep everyone away from the affected area, and avoid touching the wastewater. Then get help to find and clear the cause, which may be a blockage in your own drain or a problem on the public sewer.
Acting quickly can reduce the risk to health and limit damage. It is an unpleasant situation, but a few clear steps can help keep everyone safe.
Stay Safe First
Sewage can carry germs that cause illness. Keep children, pets and anyone who is unwell away from the area. If you must go near it, wear waterproof gloves and footwear, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Keep clear of any wastewater near sockets, appliances or electrical equipment. Do not eat, drink or prepare food in an affected area, and keep the door closed if you can.
Stop Adding Water
Stop flushing toilets and using sinks, baths, showers, washing machines and dishwashers. Every bit of water that goes down the drain may add to the backup if the drain is blocked.
If water keeps rising when nothing is being used, the problem may be further along the drain or in the public sewer. Do not lift heavy covers, climb into a drain or chamber, or pour chemicals down the drain to try to clear it.
Find Out Where the Problem Is
The cause affects who should deal with it. A blockage in the drain serving only your home, within your boundary, is usually the owner’s responsibility. A problem on a shared sewer or the public sewer is usually the responsibility of the sewerage company, which may have its own reporting line for sewer flooding.
If you rent your home, tell your landlord or letting agent straight away, ideally in writing as well as by phone.
Clues can include whether neighbours are affected, whether rain has been heavy, and whether outside drains or inspection chambers are full. These do not prove where the blockage is, but they can help when you report it.
After the Backup
Once the drain is flowing again, the affected area will need cleaning and drying. Hard surfaces can usually be cleaned and disinfected, but this should be done with care and good ventilation. Items that have been soaked in sewage, such as carpets and soft furnishings, may not be safe to keep. Take photographs before cleaning up, as these may help with an insurance claim.
If the backup came from your own drain, finding the cause matters, as a blockage that is only partly cleared may return. Our page on urgent drain unblocking explains how urgent drain blockages are assessed and cleared.
If sewage is backing up into your Poole home or business, a plumber can help find the cause and explain what is needed to clear it.