Sewage Backup Cleanup in Bloomington, MN

Who is responsible in Bloomington

The Bloomington Utilities Division runs the sanitary sewer collection system, and the city checks the main in the street at no charge when a backup is reported. The property owner is responsible for cleaning, maintaining and repairing the sewer service pipe out to the main. In 2020 the city logged seven main backups that affected eleven homes and 73 service pipe backups among about 25,000 service connections.

• Grease poured down kitchen drains.
• Roots working into the service pipe.
• Rags, paper towels and diapers flushed or rinsed away.
• Garbage disposal misuse that sends solids down the drain.

How the cleanup works

Workers suited up in protective gear seal the area with plastic and run HEPA air scrubbers. The extraction crew removes the sewage, and carpet, pad, the bottom of the drywall and wet insulation are removed and bagged. Hard surfaces and framing receive an EPA-registered antimicrobial that stays wet for its labeled contact time before drying starts. Non-porous contents can often be cleaned, while porous items are usually discarded. Outside water is covered on storm and snowmelt flood cleanup.

• The furnace blower stays off to avoid moving contaminated air.
• Wall board is removed to a point above the wet mark.
• Drying waits until the cleaning and treatment are finished.

Insurance and the next backup

Policies often exclude sewer and drain backup unless a backup endorsement was purchased. Coverage depends on your policy, so check with your own insurer. The file benefits from pictures of the drain, the stained wall and the ruined contents. The city lists grease, roots, rags, paper towels, diapers and garbage disposal misuse as the usual causes, and keeping them out is the best prevention. The Burnsville page runs to the same standard.