When it comes to homeowner nightmares, few things are more stressful, inconvenient or damaging than having a sewer backup or water discharge into your home.
The city actively tries to educate the public that fats, oils and grease — also known as FOG — as well as wipes can cause blockages in sanitary sewer lines. When washing dishes, be sure to dispose of FOG in the trash before rinsing in the sink. And remember: Toilets aren’t trash cans. Only flush the four P’s down the toilet: pee, poop, puke and toilet paper.
While Rockville prohibits the discharge of any substance likely to cause a sewer obstruction, the city can’t guarantee backup-free sewer lines. But if your home experiences a sewer backup, the city can provide some assistance.
Before you contact a plumber to respond to a backup, call Rockville’s 24-Hour Public Works Emergency Hotline at 240-314-8567 and say you are reporting a utility emergency.
Once notified, the city will investigate to determine if the backup is in the portion of the lateral or mainline the city maintains. If the problem isn’t in the city-maintained lines, the property owner will be told to contact a registered master plumber to locate the stoppage, remove it and clean out the lateral line. In rare cases, water may enter your home from a water main break in the city’s portion of the water distribution system. City crews can also respond to this utility emergency.
It’s very rare for utility providers to be held liable for damages from sewer backups or water main breaks. Because of this, Maryland requires all home insurers to offer coverage for water and sewer backup losses, in writing, at the time of homeowners insurance policy application and renewal. Your policy likely excludes coverage for losses due to sewer backups or water main breaks unless you specifically purchase an endorsement to your policy. Ask your insurance company what coverage and limits apply for losses that may occur through no fault of yours or the city’s.
The city’s Sanitary Sewer Backup, Water Main Break, and Stormwater Discharge Claims Policy can provide up to $2,500 toward documented remediation costs and/or insurance deductible limits.
For more information, contact the city’s Safety and Risk Management Division at [email protected].