Sewage coming back up inside your home is stressful. Stay calm and take the steps below in order. This guide is written for Scotland, so it points to Scottish Water and SEPA.
First steps when sewage comes back up
Work through these steps while you wait for help.
- Stop using water, toilets, sinks and showers.
- Keep children and pets away from the affected area.
- Take photos of the damage for your insurer.
- Report the flooding to Scottish Water if it looks like a public sewer problem.
- Contact your insurer.
- Ask a drainage engineer to look at your private pipework.
Using less water matters because every flush or wash adds to the problem. Also keep people out of the room until it is clean. For urgent cases, you can read our sewage emergency help page.
Who to ring: Scottish Water, then your insurer
Scottish Water helps protect homes from flooding when sewers overflow or block. If your home has flooded from a public sewer, you can report it by phone or through its online portal.
- Scottish Water helpline: 0800 0778 778 (its site shows 24 hours, 7 days a week)
- Scottish Water online portal for flood reports
Use the same helpline if the flooding looks contaminated with sewage. Scottish Water says it usually attends within 4 hours for a flood inside and 24 hours for one outside. However, severe weather can change this, so do not count on a set time.
Next, call your insurer, whatever caused the flooding. Scottish Water says your insurer is best placed to help you. Your policy will say what it covers, so read it before you pay for any work.
If you live in South Lanarkshire, the council says sewage rising through a manhole cover is Scottish Water's job, and the council does not clear it. That covers Rutherglen; see drain help in Rutherglen.
Why sewers back up
Sometimes a sewer fills faster than it can drain. When that happens it can surcharge, which means it backs up. About 500 buildings in Scotland have their basements flooded each year when sewers surcharge.
A blocked public sewer can cause this, while a blocked private drain can cause a smaller version of the same mess. So the cause may sit outside your boundary or inside it. Ask the engineer to help you work out which part of the pipe is yours.
Blocked pipes stop used water draining away. They can be messy and smelly, so treat the area with care. Do not try to clear a public sewer yourself.
Sewage outside: rivers and streams
Sometimes you see sewage outside rather than inside. Scottish Water asks you to tell it as soon as possible if you see sewage pollution in a river, stream or other watercourse. Use the same helpline as above.
For pollution, you can also contact SEPA.
- SEPA: 0800 807 060, with a live operator Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- SEPA online reporting form
The SEPA form is not for emergencies. If there is an immediate threat to life, health or property, do not wait for an online form. Phone the emergency services instead.
Getting the private drain checked
Once the flooding is reported, think about the pipe inside your boundary. The private drain is the homeowner's job, so it still needs a check even if the sewer was at fault. A drainage engineer can look at it with a camera and explain what they find.
Ask for a written quote before work starts. Also ask whether there is a call-out charge. You can mark your request urgent, and the request form is open 24/7. No one can promise an arrival time, so plan for some waiting.
Our emergency drain services cover urgent drain problems, and blocked drain services cover the clearing work. You can also see all drain services or the towns covered.
In South Lanarkshire, see emergency drain help in East Kilbride or blocked drain help in East Kilbride. Nearby, there is also emergency drain help in Rutherglen. In Renfrewshire, see emergency drain help in Paisley.
FAQ
What should I do if sewage is coming up through my toilet?
Stop using water and toilets, and keep children and pets away. Report it to Scottish Water if it may be a public sewer problem, since it runs the public sewers. Then contact your insurer and a drainage engineer.
How do I report sewer flooding in Scotland?
Call Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778 or use its online portal. Scottish Water also asks you to use the helpline for flooding that looks contaminated with sewage.
Are blocked drains dangerous?
Blocked pipes can be messy and smelly. Keep your distance and do not clear a public sewer yourself.