Enviromental Services Watermark
Sewerage Backup: FAQ
What causes a sewerage backup?
Sewerage backups (including overflows) can be caused by pipeline failures, debris blockages (i.e. rocks, sticks, lumber, toys, roots, etc.), excessive flows (typically, due to significant rainfall events), damage by contractors, power or mechanical failures at public ‘lift stations’, settlement or movement of the soil adjacent to the pipe. The publicly owned sewer lines that are operated by the City of Gresham are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Services’ Wastewater Services Division.

What should I do if sewer backs up on or at my property?
If there is significant volume or continuous flow of sewage, contact the City of Gresham Wastewater Services Division at (503) 618-2626 (regular business hours), or (503) 661-3906 (evenings, holidays or weekends). Typically, if only a small volume of flow occurs or the source is from an upper level of the structure the problem is probably a private plumbing issue. You should contact a licensed plumbing professional for assistance.

How can I protect my property from sewerage backups?
If your property is at ‘risk’ (your lowest drain elevation is below the nearest ‘upstream’ manhole), the installation of a backwater valve would be recommended. Contact the City of Gresham Plumbing Division at (503) 618-2830 for information regarding the installation of a backwater valve. Insurance covering sewage backups is also available; contact your insurance agent to discuss.

Is my health or my family’s health at risk?
Contact with untreated sewage always carries a potential health risk. Family members and pets should be evacuated from any contaminated buildings as soon as possible.

How can the City assist me if I experience a sewerage back up?
The City will respond and provide initial clean-up of sewerage outside of the buildings that poses a threat to public health. In some circumstances, an immediate although limited cleanup of sewage clean-up within buildings may be completed at the City’s expense by one of the City’s service providers (a private company under contract with the City).

When will the City respond to my call?
A City Operations Supervisor is on-call 24 hours a day. A work crew will immediately respond to the scene and evaluate the situation. They will take the steps necessary to identify and eliminate the cause of the sewerage overflow in the public wastewater system and provide preliminary cleanup in some circumstances.

Who will pay for the cleanup?
In some cases the immediate, limited cleanup of sewage will be completed at city expense. And in certain circumstances, a limited amount of relief funding may also be made available by the City to install backwater valves, provide additional cleanup, repairs and replacement of property, and settle damage claims.

For more information, please contact the Wastewater Services Division at (503) 618-2538.