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Sewage coming up the floor drain

Treat it as grossly contaminated water and keep people out of it: the EPA says sewage damage needs a professional experienced with it.1 Most standard Utah homeowners policies do not cover backed-up drains or sewers unless you bought an endorsement.2

Last reviewed October 24, 20267 sources, numbered in the textSee sources

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Why it is different

Clean, gray, black

The IICRC S500 standard sorts water into three categories, and the category sets protective equipment and procedures.3

  1. Category 1Clean source

    From a clean, sanitary source with no significant health risk.3

    A split supply line. Still on the 24 to 48 hour drying clock.1

  2. Category 2Significantly contaminated

    Contamination that can cause discomfort or illness.3

    Storm water through a window well is not tap water; a professional should assess it on site.4

  3. Category 3Grossly contaminated

    Can contain harmful pathogens or toxins; often called black water.3

    A sewer backup is the clear case.1

A professional decides the category from conditions actually observed at the site.4

Who to call first

Salt Lake City's Public Utilities department can make an initial assessment of water, sewer or storm-drain problems. The city says private contractors may be needed for interior electrical, gas, and water or sewer issues.5

Insurance

CauseMost standard Utah policies
Backed-up drain or sewerNot covered, unless you added an endorsement2
Burst pipeTypically covered6
FloodNot covered; separate flood policy2

Triple-I says you can add a sewer backup rider to a homeowners policy.6 If you disagree with your insurer about a claim, the Utah Insurance Department takes consumer calls; it cannot force a settlement but can often resolve problems through its investigation.2

While you wait

  • Keep children and pets out of the area.
  • Do not run the furnace if it may be contaminated until it has been checked.1,7
  • Throw away food that touched the water.7
  • Itemize and photograph before anything goes to the curb.5

How this works

What happens when you call

It is free to call, and calling commits you to nothing.

  1. A woman on the phone at the foot of the basement stairs, looking at a wet patch on the carpet.
    1

    You call

    Tell them what happened and where. Have the address ready.

  2. 2

    We connect you

    A call network puts you through to an independent local restoration company that serves Salt Lake City and is taking calls.

  3. A technician crouches by a basement floor drain, explaining what she sees to the homeowner beside her.
    3

    They assess and quote

    If you want a visit, they look at the damage and quote their own price. Ask for it in writing.

We are a free referral service, not a contractor. The company that answers sets its own prices. How this service works

An older couple on the front step of their brick rambler talk with a technician, the Wasatch peaks behind them.

Want a local company to look at it?

Free to call. An independent restoration company that serves Salt Lake City answers, and you decide what happens next.

Call (801) 577-3288

Salt Lake Water Damage Advice is a free referral and information service, not a contractor. Calls go through our call-tracking line to independent local restoration companies, and we may be paid when a call qualifies. We do not do the work and do not set prices or availability. How it works

Sources

Each numbered note on this page points here. We read every page on October 24, 2026. Where sources disagree we say so; where we could not find a source we left the claim out. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.

  1. U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. Page updated February 18, 2026. www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
  2. Utah Insurance Department, Home Claims Information. No date shown. insurance.utah.gov/consumers/home-insurance/home-claims-info/
  3. Cleanfax (trade magazine), Jeff Cross, "Understanding Water Damage Categories". May 6, 2025. cleanfax.com/water-damage-categories/ Summarises the IICRC S500 categories. We have not reproduced the S500 standard itself, which is sold by IICRC.
  4. IICRC, ANSI/IICRC S500 Consensus Body Issues Position Statement on Category of Water Damage and Weather-Related Events (press release). March 16, 2026. iicrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Weather-Related-Water-Damage-Position-PR_March-2026.p…
  5. Salt Lake City Corporation, Rose Park Neighborhood Flooding. Storm of October 3-4 (year not shown in the text we read). www.slc.gov/em/rose-park-neighborhood-flooding/
  6. Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), How to protect your home from water damage. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage
  7. CDC, Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home. Page updated August 24, 2026. www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html
Call (801) 577-3288Free service. We'll connect you with a local restoration company. How it works