Safety During a Sewer Backup
- Do not flush toilets or use drains until the source of the sewer backup has been fixed.
- Call Greater Sudbury Hydro at 705 675-7536 or Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235 if there is standing water or the possibility of electrical wires coming into contact with water or soggy materials. City workers cannot enter a flooded area without proof of an electrical disconnect.
- Call Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 for a free natural gas sewer safety inspection. Natural gas lines can sometimes intersect with sewer lines beyond the outside wall of your home. If this is the case, clearing a blocked sewer line could damage the natural gas line, creating a serious safety risk. Identify the reason for your call - sewer backups will be treated as an emergency. Once the inspection is complete, you will be given a sewer safety inspection clearance number.
- Call Union Gas at 1-877-969-0999 if water threatens gas-fired equipment such as your furnace or hot water heater.
- Contact your insurance company and document damages. If the source of the sewer backup was on City property, your insurance company will follow up with the City’s claims department to determine whether there is any negligence on behalf of the City.
- Begin cleaning immediately. Avoid using electrical equipment until an electrician has confirmed that it’s safe. Information about how to clean to protect your health is available through the Public Health Sudbury & Districts.