City of Shawnee Oklahoma

SEWER BACKUP GUIDE

The goal of the City of Shawnee Line Maintenance Department is to provide quality wastewater disposal service in a prompt, efficient and courteous manner to our customers. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, occasionally sewer backups do occur.

Service Calls

Upon notification of a sewer backup, a City of Shawnee Line Maintenance crew will inspect the appropriate manholes to determine the cause of the blockage. The crew will perform routine maintenance on the City line at that time, regardless of whether or not a blockage is found.

If the problem is not within the City’s line, it will be necessary for you to contact a plumber to remove any blockage in your wastewater service line and pay for the charges. If you are renting the property, you should contact the property owner about a blockage in the private service line. The City of Shawnee is not responsible for calling a plumber or for payment of a plumbing bill regarding a private line.

There is no charge for us to check the City lines.

Clean Up Suggestions

Sewage should be promptly removed with a wet vacuum and the affected area cleaned and dried as soon as possible. Carpet can often be cleaned satisfactorily and fans may be used to speed drying. However, major backups may require the use of a water damage restoration service. Restoration firms have specialized equipment and expertise, which is not usually available from most commercial carpet cleaning companies.

Personal property should be cleaned whenever possible to avoid further damage. Reliable household cleaning products, which both disinfect and deodorize are available at local stores.

Liability

Liability for sewer backups may only be determined after a thorough investigation has been made following the filing of a claim. Payment or denial of a claim is based on legal liability. Notice of prior or similar problems regarding a particular sewer line or negligence on the part of the City of Shawnee is necessary to impose liability.

Oklahoma case law has consistently held that a municipality/trust authority is not an insurer of its sanitary sewer system.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact us. See the Contact List for Public Works

To report a backup you may also want to include the telephone number of the Department or emergency dispatcher in case there is a subsequent problem.

Phone Numbers

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM 273-1960

After Hours emergency: 273-0890/273-2121