Stay out and keep others out
Sewage can carry germs and should be treated as hazardous. Do not touch it with bare hands, do not wade through it, and do not run a household vacuum or fans through it. Keep children, pets and anyone with health concerns away, and ask a physician about any health questions.
Raw sewage inside a home is classed as Category 3 water, which means it is contaminated and treated as unsafe. Stay out of the affected area, stop using sinks, toilets and drains that could push more in, and call the right party. If the backup comes from the main line, call the City of Hurst 24/7 Public Works Dispatch at 817-788-7212. Cleanup and disinfection are professional work.
What Category 3 means
Water damage is sorted into categories by how clean the water was at the source. Clean supply water is the mildest. Category 3 is the most contaminated and includes sewage, and floodwater from outside is generally treated the same way. The published ANSI/IICRC S500 standard covers these categories.
The category matters because it decides what can be kept. Porous materials that touch sewage, such as carpet, pad and drywall, usually cannot be cleaned to a safe condition and must be removed. That is a hard truth, but it is better than trying to save something that stays contaminated.
Do these things now
- Stop using the plumbingNo flushing, no running sinks, no washing machine and no showers. Every drop of water you add can push more up the line.
- Leave the areaClose doors to the affected room and keep everyone out. Wear boots and waterproof gloves only if you must cross the area briefly.
- Protect your skinDo not touch sewage with bare hands. If you do, wash with soap and clean water right away, and ask your doctor if you have concerns.
- Find where it startsCheck whether only one drain is backing up or several. Several drains at once, or a neighbor with the same problem, points to the main line.
- Make the callCall the city for a main line problem and a plumber for a blockage on your side. Then call a restoration company about cleanup.
- Photograph from a distanceTake photos from the edge of the affected area. Do not step in sewage to get a better shot.
Water still spreading?
Our 24/7 line is answered at any hour. Call (817) 623-9267 and describe what you see.
Whose pipe is it?
The City of Hurst runs its own wastewater system and the city maintains the main collection lines. Responsibility changes somewhere between the main in the street and the line that serves your house. Because the point where the city's part ends differs from home to home, ask the city where the responsibility line sits for your address.
If the dispatcher finds the blockage is in the main, the city handles that side. If the blockage is in your own line, a licensed plumber is the next call. Either way, the dispatcher can tell you which direction to go before you spend money.
What usually gets thrown away
| Item | Typical outcome after sewage contact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet and carpet pad | Removed and discarded | Absorbs contamination and cannot be made safe |
| Drywall and insulation near the floor | Cut out and discarded | Wicks contaminated water upward |
| Upholstered furniture and mattresses | Usually discarded | Soft material holds contamination |
| Cardboard boxes and paper goods | Discarded | Cannot be cleaned |
| Hard-surface items such as tile, metal or sealed plastic | Often cleaned and disinfected by professionals | Nonporous surfaces can be treated |
| Solid wood framing | Often cleaned and dried in place | Structure can be treated if the contamination is surface-level |
Hold off on a final answer until a crew sees the actual damage. Some items surprise people, and the scope can change as the materials are opened up. Photograph items before they go in the trash, since your insurer may ask about them.
Wait for the crew before you haul out bags of debris yourself. Moving soaked carpet through the house drags contamination into clean rooms. Professionals bag and carry material out by a planned path and keep the rest of the home protected.
Why disinfecting is professional work
Wiping a floor with household bleach does not clear contamination from porous surfaces or from the air. Crews wear protective gear, remove contaminated materials in a controlled way, clean surfaces, apply approved disinfectants and dry the structure afterward. They also keep contamination from moving into clean rooms.
For this type of job, see our flood damage restoration page and our water damage cleanup work. We explain scope and price before work starts, and you decide whether to go ahead.
Insurance and sewer backup
Coverage for sewer backup varies from policy to policy. Many homeowners policies do not include it unless you add a water backup endorsement. Check your policy for that wording and ask your insurer what applies to your home.
Report the loss promptly, document it safely and keep damaged items that are safe to keep until the adjuster has seen them. We cannot promise what any insurer will do, so rely on your policy and your company.
Scenarios we hear about
Raw sewage comes up from a basement or floor drain after heavy rain, and it spreads across a utility room. The first call is to the city for a main line check, and the second is to a restoration company for cleanup.
A toilet overflows with waste and water reaches a hallway carpet. If it is only the toilet bowl and you can see it is a local clog, a plumber may clear it, but the carpet and the pad still need professional handling.
Neighbors in Bedford and North Richland Hills also run into backups after storms when city systems carry heavy flow. When you are ready, call us to talk through safe cleanup.
Frequently Asked Questions
A small spill on a hard surface may be manageable with protective gear, but sewage that touched carpet, drywall or a larger area calls for professionals. When in doubt, stay out and call.
Both are treated as contaminated water, but the causes differ and insurance treats them differently. A flood policy covers flood, and sewer backup may need a separate endorsement. Check your policy.
If several drains back up or neighbors have the same problem, start with the city. If only one fixture is affected, a plumber may be the right first call. The dispatch line can help sort it.
Ask the City of Hurst. The city maintains the collection lines up to a point of owner responsibility, and that point can differ by property. Call the dispatch line and ask where it sits for your address.
The City of Hurst floodplain page lists retrofit options, including preventing basement flooding from sewer backup or sump pump failure. Ask the City Engineering Division for details on what applies to your property.
Hurst Wastewater Notes for Backups
The City of Hurst wastewater division maintains about 155 miles of collection lines and 2,932 sanitary sewer manholes. With a system that size run by the city, a main line problem is something the city needs to hear about. Call 817-788-7212 and give your address so the dispatcher can check the line.
The City of Hurst floodplain page lists retrofit options for owners, including preventing basement flooding from sewer backup or sump pump failure. That is a city-listed option worth discussing with a plumber after the cleanup, since restoration returns a home to a usable condition but is not a prevention fix.
Dumping debris in a channel, creek or ditch is illegal in Hurst, according to the city. Keep any contaminated material out of drainage ditches and ask the city how to dispose of it.
Sources: City of Hurst wastewater division, City of Hurst floodplain page, Texas Department of Insurance.