Sewer backup cleanup in Lexington
Sewage in a house is a health problem before it is a water problem. Keep people out, report it to the city, and leave the porous stuff for a crew in protective gear.
Referral service, not a contractor. Your request goes to an independent Lexington-area restoration company. We do not do the drying or repairs.
First, find out whose pipe it is
Every Lexington house connects to the public sanitary sewer through a private line called a lateral. A backup can start in either place.
- Only your house, and it began after you ran water. Often a clog in your lateral, from roots, grease or wipes. That is a plumber's call.
- Neighbors have it too, or it began in a heavy rain. More likely the public main is overloaded or blocked. Report it to LexCall 311, or (859) 425-2255.
- It happened while a city crew was cleaning sewers nearby. That is a "blow-back." The city's guidance is to call 311 right away; a contractor's crew foreman checks the home and, if needed, the contractor cleans up.
Lexington's June 2026 flood notice draws the same line: if the flooding is from the sanitary sewers rather than floodwater, the city's contractor can assist with cleanup. Water coming in through walls, windows, sump pumps, gutters or private service lines is usually a private-property issue.
Stay safe while you wait
- Stop running water in the house. Every flush and every load of laundry adds to the backup.
- Keep children, pets and anyone with asthma or a weak immune system out of the area.
- If sewage is near outlets, cords or appliances, do not walk in it. Shut power at the panel only if you can reach it dry.
- Open windows for air, but do not run the central air or furnace fan if the ducts or return are in the wet area.
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved. The city's own post-flood list puts documentation before cleanup.
Sewage cleanup, step by step
Sewage is Category 3, or black, water. HomeGuide's cost guide notes that anything black water touches, such as drywall, flooring, furniture and clothing, usually has to be removed and replaced. The usual sequence:
The crew suits up, isolates the area and sets up air movement that does not spread contamination to clean rooms.
Liquid is extracted. Carpet, pad, the bottom of the drywall and wet insulation are bagged and hauled out.
Hard surfaces, framing and concrete are cleaned and disinfected. This is where most of the labor goes.
Equipment runs until readings show the structure is dry. Only then does rebuilding start.
What it tends to cost
HomeGuide's national sewage cleanup guide puts most jobs at $7 to $15 or more per square foot. A small spill in a single room runs about $2,000 to $3,000; a backup into multiple rooms about $3,000 to $7,000; large contamination about $7,000 to $15,000; and extensive damage with repairs and restoration $15,000 to $50,000 or more. The same guide says after-hours or weekend calls can add $200 to $500, and that a sewer camera inspection to find the cause costs $125 to $500. These are national figures; Lexington estimates will vary.
What you keep, what goes
Hard, non-porous things like metal, glass, solid plastic and tile can usually be cleaned. Upholstered furniture, mattresses, carpet, pad and paper goods that sewage soaked are usually discarded. Ask the crew to photograph and list everything that leaves the house before it goes in the dumpster. That list is yours to give your insurer.
Lexington's sewer consent decree, in brief
In 2008 the U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement with Lexington over sewage overflows into Town Branch, Hickman and Elkhorn Creeks, Cane Run, Wolf Run and Blue Springs Branch. The improvements were then estimated to cost more than $290 million. The city says the consent decree was finalized in January 2011.
The city's Remedial Measures Plans describe an 11 to 13 year, $600 million program, approved by EPA on March 19, 2016. In April 2024 EPA announced a proposed amendment to extend the deadline from December 2026 to December 2030, including a nearly 50 percent larger East Hickman wet weather storage facility. The city said at the time that 41 projects remained.
What it means for a homeowner: the system is being expanded, but work is ongoing, and heavy rain can still overload parts of it. If your street has had backups before, the city's preparedness site suggests asking LexCall about a house's history of sewer backups before you rent or buy.
Small habits, fewer backups
- The city's Protect Your Pipes page warns that wipes, including those labeled "flushable," and fats, oils and grease cause clogs and sewer backups in homes.
- A sump pump tied to the sanitary line adds rainwater to it. The city pays up to $3,000 to disconnect one found in an inspection.
- A backflow valve on the waste line can stop sewage coming up a basement drain. Ask a plumber whether your house is a candidate.
Not a mold job
Sewage cleanup and drying is restoration work. If mold has already grown, testing and removal are a separate specialist matter, and the EPA suggests looking for professionals affiliated with groups such as the IICRC or NEHA.
Sewer backup questions
Does flood insurance cover a sewer backup? Does homeowners?
They are separate products, and the answer depends on your policy. FloodSmart says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and a flood policy generally takes 30 days to become effective after purchase. Lexington's preparedness site says sanitary sewer overflow coverage usually is not part of regular homeowners insurance; many insurers sell it as a separate sewer or water backup endorsement. Ask your agent which you have. The referral line does not handle claims; keep photos, receipts and the drying company's readings for your insurer.
Can I clean up a small sewer backup myself?
A few cups on a tile floor, with gloves, boots and disinfectant, many people do. Anything that reached carpet, drywall or more than one room is a job for a crew with protective equipment, because the porous materials usually have to come out.