Drainage Emergency? Here Is What to Do Right Now

Raw sewage backing up? Flooding drains? Here are the immediate steps you must take to minimise damage and protect your health before the engineers arrive.

A drainage emergency, such as raw sewage backing up into your home or sudden severe flooding from a drain, is a highly stressful and unpleasant experience. Quick, calm action is essential to minimise damage to your property and protect the health of your family. Here is exactly what you need to do right now.

First, stop using all water immediately. Turn off taps, do not flush toilets, and turn off appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. Any additional water entering the system will simply add to the backup and worsen the flooding.

Second, if the flooding is occurring inside your property, try to contain it as best you can using old towels, blankets, or sandbags if you have them. Move valuable items and electrical goods away from the affected area. If there is any risk of water reaching electrical sockets or wiring, turn off the electricity supply at the mains immediately.

Third, locate your stopcock and turn off the main water supply to the property. This ensures no further water can accidentally enter the system.

What NOT to do is just as important. Do absolutely NOT pour chemical drain cleaners down a backed-up system. These chemicals are highly corrosive and toxic. In a fully blocked system, they will not reach the clog; they will simply sit in the standing water, creating a hazardous, caustic pool that poses a severe risk of burns to you and the drainage engineers who will have to work on it.

Raw sewage poses a significant health hazard, containing harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Keep children and pets well away from the contaminated area. If you must walk near it, wear rubber boots and gloves, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Once you have taken these immediate steps to secure the property, you need to call a professional emergency drainage company. Response time matters immensely in mitigating water damage and restoring sanitary conditions. A reputable 24/7 emergency service will understand the urgency. At A&B Drainage Solutions, we aim to be on-site anywhere across Hampshire typically within 1 hour, equipped with the high-pressure jetting and diagnostic equipment needed to resolve the emergency swiftly and safely.