Sewer Back-ups

Dear Property Owner:

The Grand Rapids Public Utilities (GRPU) operates and maintains the sanitary sewer collection system that serves all properties within the City and certain rural areas. The GRPU performs regular, routine maintenance, according to its’ Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Policy, on its sanitary sewer lines to help ensure they remain in good working condition.

Blockages in the main sewer lines or in individual service connections may happen on occasion and may cause sewage to back up into your building or home. If a blockage occurs in the main sewer line, the GRPU will take action to clear the blockage. The GRPU tries to have employees available at all times to respond to sewer backups. When the GRPU learns of your sewer backup, our goal is to have employees immediately begin working with you to determine the cause and to clear any blockage in the main sewer line.

The sewer line from your home, business, or other property to the GRPU sewer main is your responsibility. That means that you, as the property owner, are responsible for clearing any blockages in that line. Property owners are responsible for scheduling service and pay the cost of clearing any blockage located in the individual sewer line up to the main.

Sewer line blockages are commonly caused by plant roots growing into the line. Blockages may also be caused by the improper disposal of items such as grease, diapers, washing machine lint, and other items flushed down the toilet. The GRPU cannot prevent the inappropriate disposal of items into the sewer system, even with a routine maintenance and inspection program. Accordingly, the GRPU cannot guarantee uninterrupted sewer services.

It is important to take prompt action to start clearing a blocked sewer line, as failure to act in a timely manner may increase damage to your property as well as to neighboring properties. Please talk to your insurance representative to determine if you have adequate coverage to cover possible damages to personal property in the event of a sewer backup into your property. Informing the GRPU of any sewer backup is critical so the line can be inspected to determine if the blockage is in the City’s main sewer line or your service line.

It is important to note that regardless of where a blockage is found, in the GRPU’s main sewer line or in an individual sewer line, the property owner is responsible for the cleanup costs. The GRPU or its insurer would pay for cleanup costs if the GRPU acted in a negligent manner, causing the backup.

A brief description of the steps a property owner should take in the event of a sewer backup is attached to the back of this letter. If you have questions regarding the City’s sanitary sewer maintenance program, sewer backup response, or a specific incident, please contact the Grand Rapids Public Utilities at (218) 326-7024. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Grand Rapids Public Utilities

To minimize damage to personal property and reduce health hazards, thoroughly clean the areas affected by the backup as soon as possible. The Grand Rapids Public Utilities suggest the following:

• Call the Grand Rapids Public Utilities at 326-7024 
• If possible use outside air to dry the area
• Open windows and doors and use an exhaust fan to remove moist air from the area
• If available, use a room dehumidifier (Empty Often)
• Open, clean, decontaminate, and thoroughly clean and dry all walls, floors and remove all wet items as soon as possible
• Use a solution of two tablespoons of bleach in one gallon of water to wipe down surfaces contaminated by the back-up
• Remove the moisture and debris from all surfaces and get surfaces dry within 24-48 hours
• Your homeowners’ insurance may cover sewer backups. Not all policies have this coverage and you should call your insurance agent to determine if your homeowner's or renters' insurance will cover any of the damages as a result of a sewer backup.
• If you feel damage occurred as a direct result of the GRPU’s negligence, you may file an insurance claim by calling the GRPU.

If you have questions regarding the GRPU’s sanitary sewer maintenance program, sewer backup response, or a specific incident, please contact the Grand Rapids Public Utilities at (218) 326-7024. Thank you.