Sewer Spill Response
King County provides wastewater treatment services to 34 local jurisdictions and sewer districts. Wastewater collected by local sewer agencies is transported to county treatment facilities through pipes owned and maintained by the county.
The first step in responding to a sewer overflow is to protect yourself and your loved ones.
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Sewer spills are caused most often by clogged or broken pipes belonging to private owners. On rare occassions, problems in pipes owned by local sewer agencies or the county can result in sewer spills on private property. The King County Wastewater Treatment Division recommends taking the following steps in the event of a sewer spill in your home:
Think safety first
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Evacuate if necessary. If the flooded area can not be isolated, children under two years old, adults over the age of 60 and anyone suffering from respiratory ailments, including allergies, or weakened immune systems should leave the premises.
- Stay out of flooded areas. Entering a flooded area creates a risk for accidental electric shock, excessive exposure to disease-causing contaminants and potential injury from rushing water.
- Safely turn off electricity in affected areas. To prevent accidental electrical shock, turn off circuit breakers and unplug electrical appliances in affected areas. Do not attempt if you must stand in or make contact with water to do so.
- Contact your doctor at the first sign of adverse health effects.
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Limit exposure
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Rubber boots limit exposure to disease-causing contaminants during a sewer spill.
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Stop using plumbing and appliances that drain into the sewer system, including sinks, showers, toilets, dishwashers and laundry machines.
- Avoid direct contact with sewage and sewage contaminated items.
- Wear rubber gloves and boots when in the vicinity of the back up. Remove boots and gloves before returning to unaffected areas.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling any contaminated items.
- Prevent the spread of contaminants and odors.
- Turn off forced air furnaces and air conditioners.
- Cover or close vents capable of spreading contaminants and odors.
- Do not use wet/dry vacuums because of the danger of electrical shock the and the spread of aerosolized germs by the fan motor.
- Be careful not to track contamination into other parts of the residence.
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Call for help
- Contact your insurer and your local sewer district immediately. Know in advance what insurance coverage you have for sewer backups. Most sewer spills are due to blockages in a building's side sewer, which is private property. Your insurer and local sewer district can help you determine the appropriate course of action.
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Sewage contains disease-causing contaminants that can require extensive clean up and restoration.
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Consider hiring a professional water damage restoration service. If there is too much water to absorb using mops and sponges, professional water damage restoration experts can be found in the Yellow Pages under "Water Damage Restoration."
- King County is ready to assist you. On rare occasions when the regional conveyance system contributes to a residential sewer spill, King County will immediately assist with emergency cleanup. If you believe a sewer spill may be related to the regional conveyance system, call King County's wastewater emergency hotline: 206-684-2404.
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Clean up safely
- Wear rubber boots and gloves.
- Disinfect all mops, sponges and brushes.
- Launder clothes worn during cleaning separately from other laundry.
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Use a bleach solution to disinfect hard surfaces, sponges and mops that come into contact with sewage.
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Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces.
- Plumbing fixtures and vinyl, metal, wood and concrete surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly with hot water and a mild detergent, such as dish detergent, and then disinfected with bleach solution.
- Mix one part of liquid household bleach with 10 parts of water (1:10). Dampen contaminated surfaces and allow them to air dry.
- Remove and discard porous materials.
- Upholstered furniture, loose rugs and drapery can not be salvaged and must be discarded properly.
- Remove and replace lath, plaster, plasterboard and drywall saturated to the point of being soft to the touch.
- Wall to wall carpeting and pad cannot be reliably disinfected, and must be removed and sent to a sanitary landfill.
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Learn more about sewer spills
More information on this topic is available from these local, state and national resources.
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For questions about the Wastewater Treatment Division Web site, please send an 