Sewage in the Basement: What to Do in Fort Wayne

1. Safety first

• Stop running water, flushing toilets and doing laundry. Every gallon you send down adds to the backup.
• Keep children and pets out of the area.
• If water is near outlets, cords, the furnace or the water heater, do not walk into it. Shut off power at the panel only if you can reach it from a dry spot.
• If you must go near it, wear rubber boots and gloves. Sewage carries bacteria and viruses.

2. Call 311

Report the backup to City Utilities through 311. The utility can check whether the public sewer is blocked or overloaded. If several neighbors are having the same problem, especially during a heavy rain, that points to the public system.

3. Figure out whose problem it is

In Fort Wayne, the building sewer between your house and the public sewer is your responsibility (Fort Wayne City Utilities, Prepare for Heavy Precipitation). If the public sewer is flowing normally and only your house is backing up, the blockage is almost always in your line: roots, grease, wipes, or a broken or sagging pipe. That is a job for a plumber, usually starting with clearing the line from a cleanout and then a camera inspection to find the cause.

4. Document everything

Before cleanup, take photos and video of the water, the damage and anything ruined. Keep receipts. Many homeowner policies exclude sewer backup unless you added a sewer and drain backup endorsement, so check your policy and call your insurer.

5. Clean up safely

• Porous items soaked with sewage, such as carpet, pad, upholstered furniture, drywall and insulation, usually have to be thrown out.
• Hard surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected.
• Dry the area quickly with fans and a dehumidifier to prevent mold.
• For a large backup, a professional water damage restoration company may be the safer choice.

6. Keep it from happening again

• Backwater valve: City Utilities recommends a backflow prevention device on the building sewer in backup-prone areas. It keeps sewage out even when the public sewer is full (Fort Wayne City Utilities, Prepare for Heavy Precipitation).
• Root control: if a camera shows roots, schedule cleanings or repair the line. The utility notes that homes with trees may need the building sewer de-rooted.
• Disconnect clear water: downspouts and sump pumps should discharge outside, not into the sewer.
• Kitchen habits: keep grease and wipes out of drains.

The bigger picture

Parts of older Fort Wayne are served by combined sewers that carry both stormwater and sewage. City Utilities' long-term control plan, including the Three Rivers Protection and Overflow Reduction Tunnel completed in 2024, is designed to hold combined sewage during storms and reduce both overflows and neighborhood backups (Fort Wayne City Utilities, 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report). Your own line and a backwater valve are still your best protection.

Related services

• Sewer Line Repair & Backups: Building sewer repair, camera inspection, root problems and backwater valves for basement backups.
• Drain Cleaning: Slow sinks, backed-up tubs, basement floor drains and main-line clogs, including roots in older laterals.
• Sump Pumps & Wet Basements: Sump pump replacement, battery backups, pumps that run nonstop and basements that take on water.

Sources: Fort Wayne City Utilities, Prepare for Heavy Precipitation; Fort Wayne City Utilities, 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.