What to do while you wait for help
Sewage backups are urgent and unpleasant. These steps limit damage and risk until help arrives.
Do these now
- Stop all water use.No flushing, no showers, no laundry or dishwasher. Every drop you add can come back out of the lowest drain.
- Keep people and pets out.CDC warns that sewage-contaminated water can cause wound infections, rashes and stomach illness. Keep children away.
- Stay away from electricity.Do not touch outlets, appliances or the panel if there is water near them. Leave if water is rising toward electrical equipment.
- Protect yourself.If you must enter, wear rubber boots, gloves and goggles, and wash your hands with soap and clean water afterward.
- Smell gas? Leave.Go outside, then call Nicor Gas at 800-942-9727 or 911 from outside. Do not use switches or phones inside.
- Call the village, then the plumber.Public Works first, then (847) 281-8626 for a plumber.
Why you call Public Works before a plumber
Buffalo Grove asks homeowners to call Public Works first when sewage backs up. The village owns and maintains the sewer main under the street, and crews can check whether the main is blocked or surcharged. That tells you whether the fix is on your side or the village side of the line.
Public Works does not root-cut or televise private lines. The sewer service line, called the private lateral, runs from your house to the main and is the homeowner's to maintain. If the main is clear, the next step is a plumber.
Who handles what
Many people lose time because they are not sure whose pipe is whose. This table sorts it out.
| Part of the system | Who owns it | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer main under the street | Village of Buffalo Grove | Public Works, 847-459-2545 in business hours |
| After hours, a backup that cannot wait | Village | Police non-emergency line, 847-459-2560 |
| Private sewer line from house to main | Homeowner | A plumber, (847) 281-8626 |
| Floor drains and branch lines inside | Homeowner | A plumber |
| Cleanup of wet drywall and carpet | Homeowner | A cleanup contractor and your insurer |
Check your own insurance policy for what it covers.
Sewage coming up through a floor drain?
Call (847) 281-8626 after you have called the village, and a plumber can head your way.
Common reasons sewage backs up
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) explains that backups usually come from limited capacity in the sewer system, but a blocked or damaged private lateral is another cause.
A blocked or broken private line
Roots, grease, collapsed pipe or buildup can stop flow between the house and the main. If only your house is affected, this is the likeliest cause. A plumber with a camera can see inside the line.
The main is overloaded
Intense rain can overwhelm the sewer system. If neighbors have the same problem, the village may already be working on it. That is why Public Works is the first call.
A blockage in the house line
A clog in a branch or main drain inside the house can push water up through the lowest fixture. Toilets, floor drains and tubs in the basement show it first.
What a plumber does once you call
The plumber first finds where the blockage is. A camera inspection of the sewer line shows roots, breaks or buildup and tells you whether the problem is in your line or at the main. A sewer line cleaning visit uses cable or water to clear the blockage, and sewer line repair covers a pipe that is cracked or collapsed.
In Buffalo Grove, repairs to a sewer or water service line need an emergency repair permit applied for within 24 hours, with an underground inspection after 48 hours' notice. Call 811 before anyone digs. Price depends on depth, access, pipe condition and the hour, and it is explained before work starts.
Cleaning up safely afterward
CDC guidance for sewage-contaminated floodwater applies to a basement backup as well.
Remove what cannot be cleaned
CDC advises discarding sewage-contaminated drywall, insulation and porous items such as carpet, mattresses and upholstered furniture.
Clean hard surfaces
Wash with hot water and detergent. Never mix bleach with ammonia, because the fumes are dangerous.
Dry quickly
Get the area dry within 24 to 48 hours with fans and dehumidifiers if you can.
Wash clothes and hands
Wash contaminated clothes in hot water with detergent, and wash your hands with soap and clean water.
Take photos before you clean, and call your insurer early. FEMA notes that most homeowner policies do not cover flooding but may cover minimal sewer backup damage, so ask what yours says.
Stopping it from happening again
FEMA and MWRD both point to a check valve or backflow valve, installed by a plumber, as a way to keep sewage from flowing back into the house. The device needs cleanable access and local permission, and it works best alongside a clean lateral.
MWRD also advises inspecting and cleaning the lateral and pointing downspouts away from the foundation. FEMA notes that floor drain plugs have limited use and should not be relied on if flooding could exceed 3 to 4 inches. Drain cleaning on the house side helps when the house line is the weak point.
Where this advice comes from
The village contacts and the private lateral rules come from the Village of Buffalo Grove Sewer and Drainage page. Backup causes and remedies come from MWRD, and the cleanup and health steps come from CDC and FEMA.
Permit timing comes from Village of Buffalo Grove Community Development. You can verify any plumber with the Illinois Department of Public Health license lookup.
The advice on check valves and cleanable access follows FEMA and MWRD guidelines, while the Public Works call comes from the village's own sewer page.
Local note
What Buffalo Grove homeowners should know
Buffalo Creek is the village's main flood source, and the Cook County hazard plan lists federal flood declarations in 1972, 1973, 1986, 1987, 1993 and 2013, plus state declarations in April 2013 and July 2017. After a major storm, a backup can come from the system rather than your pipe, so call the village first.
The village did smoke testing of its sanitary sewers in 2023. If you see a backup in more than one fixture, tell Public Works what you saw and when, since it helps them decide whether the main needs a look.
The same dispatch line serves Wheeling and Arlington Heights, where Public Works contacts will differ, so call your own town's office first.
Questions we hear from homeowners
Call Public Works at 847-459-2545 during business hours, or the police non-emergency line at 847-459-2560 after hours. Then call a plumber for your private line.
The homeowner owns the private sewer service line from the house to the main. The village owns the main under the street.
No. Public Works does not root-cut or televise private lines. A plumber handles that work.
Yes. CDC says sewage-contaminated water can cause wound infections, rashes and stomach illness. Keep children out, wear boots, gloves and goggles if you must enter, and wash hands afterward.
A check valve or backflow valve installed by a plumber can help. FEMA notes it needs cleanable access and local permission, and it works best with a clear lateral.
Yes. The line at (847) 281-8626 is answered around the clock. Call the village first, then us.