Key facts: Sewage Backups in Bear Creek
- Heavy rain can overload sewers, so a storm may bring both a backup and surface flooding.
- A sample home policy form treats water backing up through sewers or drains and flood as separate items.[1]
- Cedar Hill contracts with the Trinity River Authority to treat its wastewater, and its Water and Sewer Division maintains the collection system.[2]
Which is it?
Backup or flood? Clues after a storm
| Clue | Sewer backup | Surface flooding |
|---|---|---|
| Where it starts | Toilet, shower, floor drain | Doors, garage, low walls |
| Water | Dark, with sewage odor | Muddy, earthy smell |
| Timing | During or after heavy use or rain | During rain, as water rises outside |
| Yard | May be fine | Silt or flow marks |
| Neighbors | May share it on the same line | May share it along the same low ground |
Why it matters
Why you should document both separately
The two call for nearly the same protective handling, because both are contaminated. But insurers treat them differently. Triple-I says flood falls under a separate policy, while backup cover is far from universal, and many policies leave it out.[3] If both happened, take separate photographs showing where each entered, and say so when you report it. Vague descriptions cause arguments later.
A plumber's note that a line was blocked or overloaded is useful too. Keep it, along with any report you made to the city.
First steps
When a drain backs up during a storm
- 1
Stay safe first
If water is rising outside as well, leave if you need to.
- 2
Stop using water
Don't flush or run appliances.
- 3
Stay out of the affected rooms
Keep children and pets away.
- 4
Report it to the city if it might be the main
Particularly if neighbors have the same problem.[2]
- 5
Take photos
Include where it came up, and how far it went.
- 6
Plan the cleanup
Plumber first if blocked; contractor as soon as it's safe.
Causes
Root-heavy lines beneath mature trees
The trees that give this area its character are also a common cause of slow lines. Roots enter at joints, and a partly blocked line may cope in normal use, then fail when a storm adds extra water. That's why some homeowners only ever see a problem during heavy rain and assume it's the city's fault. It might be. But a camera inspection is the only way to know whether your own line is partly to blame.
Look at any open cleanouts or broken caps in the yard, too. A missing cap in a low spot lets surface water straight into the sewer line, and it's a very simple fix.
Outside
When sewage reaches the yard or creek line
If sewage surfaces in your yard, keep children and pets away, and don't hose it toward a creek or drain. Report it to the city if it might be from the public line. Treat soil that's been contaminated with caution, and ask the plumber or the city what they advise about cleaning up.
Don't use the yard until it's been dealt with, and wash thoroughly after any contact. Boots that have been in it stay outside.
- Keep kids and pets away
- Don't hose toward the creek
- Report possible public leaks
- Replace missing caps
Next steps
Choices to make once it's clean
- Ask about a backwater valveA plumber can say whether it fits your plumbing.
- Inspect the lineCamera footage shows joints and roots.
- Replace missing capsCheck cleanouts around the yard.
- Add backup coverAsk your agent about a rider.[3]
- Look at flood cover tooThese are separate protections.
Mixed housing
Older houses and infill on the same line
Where new infill connects near older homes, more houses may be sharing a line, and work on one lot may disturb what's there. If a problem starts after nearby construction, mention it to the plumber and the city. It may be nothing, but it's a useful fact. Older homes may also have older clay or cast iron lateral lines, which a camera can identify.
Combined loss
Cleaning a house after both
If both a backup and surface water entered, the whole wet area is handled as contaminated. Carpet, pad and wet wall materials normally come out. Hard surfaces get cleaned and sanitized, and then the structure is dried and measured. For the details of each, see sewage backup cleanup and flash flood cleanup in Bear Creek. For local context, read the Bear Creek page.
Other drains
Drains in garages and on patios
Some homes have a garage or patio drain, and it's worth knowing where it goes. A drain piped to the sewer can let storm water into your line, or let sewage out when the line is overloaded. One piped to the yard should stay clear of leaves. If you don't know, a plumber can tell you with a simple test. Don't connect any new outdoor drains or sump lines to the sewer, as storm water adds to the very problem that you're trying to prevent.
Reporting
Who to tell and in what order
Tell the people in the house first, then your plumber, then the city if you think it may be the main. Call your insurer once you know what happened, and mention both water sources if a storm was involved. If you rent, tell your landlord in writing. Keep a short log of each call, since memories blur quickly in a stressful week.
Line route
Look at the sewer line route
Find out where your line runs across the lot. If it passes under a low spot, standing water above it may find a way into a poor joint, and that is worth raising with the plumber during the camera run.
Boots
Clean boots stay outside
Leave work boots outside the door, and hose them off away from any creek line or storm drain.
Hygiene
Wash up first
Wash your hands before you touch food.
Questions
Bear Creek sewer questions
Why do my drains back up only when it storms?
Storm water may be getting into the sewer system and overloading it, and a partly blocked line of your own makes that worse. Report it to the city, and have a plumber run a camera through your line in dry weather.
Is it sewage or flood water in my house?
Look at where it came from. Water coming up through toilets or drains points to a backup, and water coming through doors points to surface flooding. Both can happen together, so photograph each entry point separately.
Does a backwater valve stop all backups?
It's designed to stop sewage flowing back into the house from the line, but it needs to be right for your plumbing and maintained. Ask a plumber about it, and ask whether a permit is needed in Cedar Hill.
Should I clean up sewage from my yard myself?
Small amounts might be handled with care, but keep children and pets away, and don't hose it toward a creek or drain. Report it if it may come from a public line, and ask what the city advises.
