Sewage and septic backups around Hartfordwhere wet ground changes everything

You would be surprised how many people are not sure. Look at your utility bills: a sewer charge usually means a sewer connection. Look at the property for a septic tank lid, a drainfield area or an old inspection report. The local health department may keep records for on-site systems, and the Lake Stevens Sewer District can tell you about sewer connections. It pays to know before anything goes wrong, as the first call and the first actions differ.

On sewer, a backup is usually a blockage in your side sewer or the public main. On septic, it can be the tank, the line to the tank or a drainfield that can no longer accept water. In a wet December near the outlet channel and Catherine Creek, ground saturation can be enough to stop a field working, even when nothing is broken. See the main sewage backup cleanup page for the indoor cleanup steps.

Around the outlet channel, surface water, a flooded drainfield and a backed-up drain can all happen in the same storm. From a cleanup standpoint, this makes little difference, as lake and river floodwater is considered black water in Washington's guidance anyway. ^[3] Treat it all the same way: keep people out, wear protection, remove porous materials that were soaked, clean with detergent, disinfect hard surfaces, and only then dry the structure.

From an insurance standpoint, it can make a big difference. A typical home policy does not cover flooding, the state's Insurance Commissioner says, while a sewer backup often requires an endorsement. ^[6] Note where the water first appeared, what it looked and smelled like, and what the channel and yard were doing at the time. Take dated photos of each. You do not need to work out the insurer's answer yourself, but honest records of what happened will help you get one.

Older buildings can make cleanup more complicated. Sewage in a crawlspace means soaked insulation and ground cover have to come out, and any wood has to be cleaned before it is dried. Old floor layers may trap contamination. Before cutting older materials, ask about testing for asbestos and lead. Shops and outbuildings connected to a septic system should be included in your check, since a floor drain or a utility sink can connect to the same system.

If your home is on a private well, flooding raises a separate question about drinking water. Do not assume that it is safe after floodwater or sewage has reached the well area, and ask your local health department about testing. Use another source of drinking water until you know.

A sewage job usually involves vehicles, pumps and carrying materials out. On wet ground that can be a problem in itself. Mark your tank lid and your drainfield boundaries, and meet the crew when they arrive so that you can show them. Washington's guidance warns against driving equipment near or over a wet drainfield, and against heavy machinery around it while the soil is saturated. Trucks may need to park on the road, and long hoses may be needed.

Ask how contaminated water will be disposed of. It should not be pumped onto the ground near the channel or the creek. Before you sign, check the firm on the Washington L&I Verify tool. ^[7] It shows registration, citations and bond lawsuits. After big storms, unfamiliar firms may come through a flooded area, so it is worth the few minutes.