Due to unprecedented amounts of rainfall this winter, the District of Sooke is reminding residents what to do in case of a sewer backup.
Residents who are connected to the municipal wastewater (sewer) system, and who experience a sewer backup, should call the District of Sooke wastewater department first, before calling a plumber, said Dan Skidmore, wastewater manger.
Municipal operators will assess whether the blockage is on municipal or on private property.
If the blockage is on municipal property, the operator will work to remove the blockage and return the system to proper operation. If the blockage is on private property, the operator will advise the resident to contact a plumber.
“We’re just saying give us a call first and we can assess it,” Skidmore said.
“If [the blockage] is on the municipal side, it might not be just your service. It could be the mainline and if it’s starting to affect you, we can get out there to prevent it from happening further up the line to your neighbours.”
Blockages tend to increase as a municipal wastewater system grows. “The more connections, the more chances of having a backup,” Skidmore said.
And it’s easy to tell if the sewage system is backing up: your toilet can start to make noise or sewage could seep through drains.
Sooke’s wastewater department is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached by calling 250-642-0151. On-call operators are available after hours to assist residents with emergency sewer-related issues.
To reach an on-call operator after hours, call 250-480-2198.
All municipal emergency contacts can also be found online.