Safety first
Standing water in your building can be dangerous. Do not enter the area if the water level has reached any electrical connection, extension cord, or electrical outlet.
When in doubt, turn off your power supply
When in doubt, turn off the power supply to the affected area of your home. Turn off the gas to your hot water heater.
Call MSD’s 24-hour Emergency Hotline at (314) 768-6260
We will send a maintenance crew to your home to determine the cause of the backup.
Cleaning it up
Raw sewage and flood waters contain bacteria, fecal matter, viruses, and parasites that can cause illness. To protect your family’s health, you’ll want to remove any contaminated items and clean the affected area as soon as water recedes. MSD’s Building Backup Brochure and Clean Up Guide will show you how to get started. But be careful! If you choose to do it yourself, you’ll want to take the appropriate safety precautions.
Who pays the bill?
Whether or not MSD or your private insurance will reimburse you for your losses depends on the cause of the flooding.
If the problem is caused by a public sewer line, an MSD crew will make the necessary repairs to the sewer and arrange for an insurance adjuster to visit your home and verify your damages. We have insurance programs that can reimburse some or all of the costs associated with backups caused by public sewer lines.
If the problem is caused by the lateral line that connects your home to the public sewer system: These lines are your private property. MSD’s insurance programs will not cover backups caused by them. We suggest you contact your homeowners/renters insurance agent to learn more about the coverage you may have.
