Sewage Backup Cleanup in Edmonton

01 /Who do you call for a sewage backup in Edmonton?

Call EPCOR. In Edmonton, the drainage utility is operated by EPCOR, and its basement flooding page asks residents to call 780-412-4500 to report basement flooding from a sewer backup. Then call your insurance company; EPCOR's own advice is that insurers will guide you on cleanup and claims procedures.

1. Make it safe

   Keep people and pets away, stay clear of wet electrical equipment, and leave if you smell gas.

2. Stop using water

   EPCOR advises avoiding water use during storms because showers or laundry can cause a backup when the neighbourhood sewer is at or near capacity.

3. Report to EPCOR

   Use 780-412-4500 and describe which drain overflowed, when, and whether it was raining.

4. Call your insurer

   Record the claim number and ask about approved cleanup companies.

5. Photograph before cleanup

   Capture the water, the drain and every damaged item before anything is moved.

The same first steps in more depth, for any city, are in the sewage emergency guide. HAUSE does not operate crews in Edmonton; it is an information and request network, and you can send a request if you want help finding cleanup quotes.

02 /Which part of the sewer line is yours in Edmonton?

EPCOR splits the service line at the property line. Property owners maintain the sewer lines on their property, from the home to the property line, including any backwater valve. EPCOR is responsible for the pipe from the property line to the sewer main in the street or alley.

Two EPCOR rules matter when the bills arrive. A fee is charged if a blockage was caused by prohibited items such as rags, paper towels, wipes, hair or grease, regardless of where in the service line it sits. And EPCOR says it will not reimburse private plumber fees, even when the blockage turns out to be in EPCOR's section.

03 /Who pays to clean up a flooded basement in Edmonton?

The owner does. EPCOR's basement flooding page states plainly that residents are responsible for cleaning up and repairing their damaged property. Whether your insurer contributes depends on whether your policy includes sewer backup coverage; the Insurance Bureau of Canada notes that it is optional and not part of a standard policy.

Edmonton's dry winter air helps drying once the heat is on; summer storm season is harder, because the air is humid and many basements flood at once. Either way, Health Canada's benchmark is to dry materials within 48 hours to limit mould. The drying and mould guide explains how.

04 /How does EPCOR's backwater valve subsidy work?

EPCOR offers up to $800 toward installing an interior or exterior backwater valve, on a first-come, first-served basis, and EPCOR says funding is not assured. As checked September 2026, the requirement for a pre-approval inspection by EPCOR's Flood Prevention team was suspended until further notice, while the other eligibility rules remained in place.

• The home has no existing backwater valve, and no earlier subsidy was paid for that address.
• It is a separately serviced single-family dwelling or duplex.
• The program targets homes built before 1989, homes that flooded from a sanitary sewer backup, and areas with previous neighbourhood flooding.
• The valve must be one of the models EPCOR lists on its subsidy page.
• A professional plumber installs it, and the City of Edmonton's inspection acceptance, the green sticker with the permit number, is required.
• The application goes to EPCOR's Flood Prevention team with the paid invoice and the completed form.

EPCOR also offers a free Flood Prevention Home Inspection to Edmonton homeowners. From April to October it covers inside and outside the home; from November to March it is interior only, with the exterior check later. It includes a review of subsidy eligibility. Booking is through EPCOR's website, by phone at 780-412-4500, or by emailing EPCOR's flood prevention team.

05 /What should Edmonton owners check after the cleanup?

Once the basement is dry, turn to why it flooded. A camera inspection of your section shows roots, grease, a sag or a break; an EPCOR report and your notes on rainfall help show whether the main surcharged.

1. Keep the camera footage and the drain contractor's invoice with your claim file.
2. If you already have a backwater valve, have it opened, cleaned and checked; EPCOR notes that when the valve is closed you should not use the toilet, sink, shower, washer or dishwasher.
3. Walk the outside: eavestroughs, downspouts, window wells and grading all feature in EPCOR's flood prevention advice.
4. Book the free home inspection if you have not had one.
5. Review your policy's sewer backup limit before the next storm season.

The cleanup-side view of valves is in backwater valves after a sewage backup.

06 /Does this apply in Sherwood Park, St. Albert or Spruce Grove?

No. Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Spruce Grove and Leduc have separate municipal and utility arrangements. Sherwood Park is in Strathcona County, and each community has its own utility arrangements and any rebate programs of its own. EPCOR's Edmonton rules and subsidy do not automatically apply outside the city.

Calgary owners have a separate Calgary guide, and other cities are on the locations page. For planning numbers, use the sewage cleanup cost guide.

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