Local guide / Salt Lake City, UT

Sewer Backup in Salt Lake City: Who Pays and What to Do

Water rising out of a basement floor drain is one of the worst calls a homeowner can make. Here is who to call first in Salt Lake City, how responsibility splits between you and the city, and how to get the cleanup right.

Call (385) 513-0739

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Snow on the Wasatch Mountains above the Salt Lake Valley in winter

Photo: Wasatch Mountains from South Jordan, Utah by Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Call the city line first

Quick answer

Salt Lake City Public Utilities runs a 24 hour emergency dispatch line at (801) 483-6700 for sewage backups and sewer odors. Call it early. If the problem is in the public main under the street, the city needs to know, and if it is not, you have lost nothing by asking.

While you wait, stop using water in the house. Every flush, shower and load of laundry goes down the same pipe that is already backing up.

Your lateral or the city main

Quick answer

The pipe that carries wastewater from your house to the main is called the sewer lateral. Salt Lake City's public utilities deputy director said in 2014 that homeowners are responsible for care of the lateral sewer lines leading to the city's main line. Roots, grease buildup, a sagging section or a broken joint in that pipe are on the owner.

A plumber with a sewer camera can usually tell you where the blockage is. Ask for the finding in writing. Both your insurer and the city will want to know.

Sewage in your Salt Lake City basement right now? Call to reach a local restoration company.

Call (385) 513-0739

Filing a claim with the city

Quick answer

If you believe the city's main caused the backup, Salt Lake City handles damage claims through a notice of claim. The City Recorder accepts it by mail at P.O. Box 145515, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5515, by hand at 451 S. State Street, Room 415, or by email. You can request a form at (801) 535-7788.

A few things the city spells out:

Original signature. Faxed claims are not accepted.
Deadline. Utah Code section 63G-7-402 sets the time for filing, and the postmark or email date decides whether you made it. Do not sit on it.
State law applies. Claims for property damage go through the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah.

Does homeowners insurance pay?

Quick answer

Often not, unless you added it. The NAIC lists sewer backup as one of the coverages you may need to buy on top of a standard homeowners policy. It is usually sold as an endorsement with its own limit.

Call your agent and ask two questions: do I have sewer or drain backup coverage, and how much? Then read the answer carefully, because a low limit can disappear fast once flooring, drywall and a furnace are involved.

Why sewage needs a pro

Quick answer

Clean water from a burst supply pipe and sewage are not the same job. The EPA says that if water damage comes from sewage or other contaminated water, you should call in a professional with experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.

In practice that usually means wet carpet and pad get thrown out, drywall is cut above the wet line, and everything left is cleaned and disinfected before drying starts. Keep kids and pets out of the area, and treat anything the water touched as contaminated.

The first hour, step by step

Quick answer

1. Stop all water use in the house. 2. Call Public Utilities dispatch at (801) 483-6700. 3. Turn off power to the basement only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. 4. Take photos and video of the water, the drain it came from and the damaged items. 5. Call a plumber to clear and camera the line. 6. Report it to your insurance company.

The EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to keep mold from growing. With sewage, cleaning and disinfecting has to come first, so get help moving quickly.

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