IMPORTANT NOTICE
Regarding
Sewer Back Ups

DID YOU KNOW???

· The County does not pay for damages caused by sewer back ups unless they are caused by a direct act or negligence of the County. This rarely occurs.

· Most homeowner insurance policies DO NOT pay for sewer back ups unless a special rider is attached to the policy.

· In most instances, you may have to pay yourself.

WHAT CAN YOU DO???

Contact your insurance agent regarding your coverage.

If you don’t have sewer backup coverage, consider adding it. Make sure the amount of coverage is sufficient to cover damages you may incur as the result of a sewer backup. Some policies have a $5,000 maximum; this is not sufficient for a serious problem.

Do not place grease of any type, diapers, rags or other objects down the drain.

Instruct your children not to throw debris down manholes.

Check your trees. Roots from trees could be blocking your sewer lateral.

Call the Department of Utilities 658-8695 during normal working hours or call 658-4857 on nights, weekends and holidays if you suspect a problem with your sewer system. There is no charge for this service.

A Message from the Stafford County Department of Utilities

Sewage usually follows a reliable course, moving from pipes inside your home or business to pipes under the lawn or street to the public sewer lines to the County’s wastewater treatment facilities. When this course reverses for any reason, it is unpleasant. Sewer backups are rare, but it is important t know how to handle them. The following information can help you cope with the event.

Our customers usually have two immediate questions:

How do I remove the sewage from my house?

Who is going to pay for the clean-up and damages?

How do I remove the sewage?

You must first stop the sewage from coming into your home or business. Immediately seal sink and tub drains. Use a string mop or wad of rags to plug toilets. Your first telephone call should be to the Department of Utilities at 658-8695 (658-4857, nights weekends and holidays). Call us before you call a plumber! If you call a plumber first and the problem turns out to be in the public sewer line, the County cannot reimburse you for the plumber’s fee. Blockages in the public sewer line can cause the greatest damage. Only the Utilities response team can address these conditions. Call your neighbors and ask if their homes are affected. This information will be helpful in determining where the blockage is located.

We will conduct a thorough check of the public sewer line and remove any blockage that exists. If there is a clean-out near the property line, we will inspect your sewer line between the clean-out and public sewer line to ensure that it is clear. If no clean-out is present and the sewer main is flowing normally, the property owner must hire a plumber to inspect the house or business sewer line and remove any obstruction. The County will clean and disinfect the area around any manholes that have overflowed. We cannot, however, clean inside your home or business.

Who Pays?

If a backup occurs as the result of a blockage in the public sewer main and is the direct result of an act of the County, the County will pay 100% of the costs for cleanup and damages resulting from the backup. However, the County has an ongoing maintenance program designed to minimize sewage backups and makes every effort to correct any defects found before they result in a backup.

If a backup occurs as the result of a blockage in the customer’s sewer line or if the backup is due to negligence on the part of the customer, the customer is responsible for all costs resulting from the backup. The County strongly encourages all sewer customers to purchase backup insurance for such situations.

If a backup occurs due to a blockage in the public sewer main and neither the County nor the customer is clearly negligent (which is usually the case):

· If the customer has sewer backup insurance, it is his/her responsibility to file a claim for damages with his/her insurance carrier.

· If the customer does not have sewer backup insurance, as a courtesy to the customer, the County Administrator may authorize payment up to 100% of the reasonable cost of cleanup and up to $2,000 of the total cost of damages resulting from the backup. This courtesy payment will only be made once per customer. In order to qualify for a one-time courtesy payment, the following conditions must be met:

o The backup must be the result of a blockage in the public sewer main and not in the customer’s sewer line.

o The customer must provide evidence of having purchased sewer backup insurance to cover any future occurrences.

o The customer must sign a Release of Claims.

We hope this information is helpful in identifying potential problems, handling them when they occur, and, most importantly, assisting you in preventing a sewage backup into your home or business.