Backups from drains, toilets and tanks

Sewage Backup Cleanup in Carrollton

Murky water backing up out of a drain, a tub or a toilet, or a septic tank sending wastewater indoors. Close the room to people and pets, then call (678) 270-2458 and describe what you see.

Call (678) 270-2458

What you may be seeing

Gray or murky water welling up in the tub, shower or a floor drain
Toilets that gurgle while drains slow down all over the house at once
A sewer odor that seems strongest in a bathroom, near the washer or down in the basement
Wet carpet, cardboard or stored boxes close to a drain
Wastewater surfacing in the yard near a septic tank or drain field

Technician in a hooded coverall and respirator cutting into wet drywall

What the photo shows

The white suit and why it is there

A person in a white hooded protective suit, a respirator and green gloves works at an interior wall beside a doorway. Connecticut's sewage sheet asks for rubber gloves on anything contaminated, plus eye protection and boots. The EPA's flood page lists an N-95 respirator, goggles without vent holes, gloves, long sleeves and boots.

Walk away and get help if

Sewage at an outlet, a cord or the breaker panel: stay out of the water. Leave the room; a spark, smoke or burning odor means dial 911.
Young children, anyone pregnant, and people living with asthma or a weakened immune system: stay out of the room. The EPA asks that children and pregnant people not take part in cleanup.
A gas smell in the house: leave, then phone Atlanta Gas Light at 877-427-4321 from outside, or dial 911.
A gas-powered pump or generator running in the house or garage: shut it off and leave if anyone feels ill. The EPA puts generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from buildings.

Safe things to look at

These are looks and touches, nothing more. Stay with the ones that feel comfortable, and skip any that put you near water, wiring or a ladder.

Stop adding water: no flushing, showers, dishwasher or washer. Connecticut's health department sheet says not to flush the toilets.
Work out who runs the sewer. That sheet says to call the authority that runs the system, or the local health department if the house has a septic tank.
Write down the numbers: Carrollton's wastewater plant lists 770-830-2017, and Carroll County Environmental Health lists 770-836-6781.
Photograph the room from the doorway before anyone starts cleaning.

What often sits behind it

Grease building up in the line. Carrollton's wastewater page names fats, oil and grease as a cause of sewer backups.
A blockage in the public main rather than the house line, which is the sewer authority's to sort out
A septic tank overdue for pumping, with the effluent filter clogged
A drain field soaked by rain. Georgia's septic guide says standing water over the field can saturate the soil.
Backups that only show up in rainy weather, which the same guide ties to surface water getting into the system

When a backup is past a mop

The water reached carpet, padding, drywall or upholstered furniture. Porous materials touched by sewage are thrown out.
The house has a septic tank and the backup keeps returning. Georgia's septic guide lists backing up into the house as a warning sign and says repairs need a county health department permit and a septic contractor with state certification.
Someone has a cut that touched the water. The Connecticut sheet says to wash and disinfect any wound that touches sewage.

Backup cleanup that backfires

Flushing to see whether the line has cleared.
Washing the floor with bleach before detergent. The Connecticut sheet says the area is washed with detergent solution first, since disinfecting does not work without it.
Keeping the boxes, mattresses and upholstered furniture that sat in the water.
Running the heating or air system if the water touched it. The EPA advises against using a contaminated HVAC system.

Late-winter rain and the sewer line

Carrollton's wettest stretch in the 1991-2020 normals runs from December to March: 5.09, 5.00, 5.30 and 5.59 inches.
Georgia's septic guide says a backup that appears only in rainy weather points to surface water, and that standing water over the drain field can saturate the soil.
A sewer problem in dry weather points somewhere else, such as a blockage.

Questions, answered briefly

How urgent is a sewage backup?

Sewage touching outlets, or anyone feeling sick, is an 8 to 10 on the checklist. A backup held to one drain with the power clear is a 4 to 7. Keep people out of the room first; then call (678) 270-2458 and describe what came up and where.

What gets thrown away after a backup?

Connecticut's health department sheet lists contaminated carpet, rugs, padding, cardboard, mattresses and upholstered furniture. Wallboard is cut out several inches above the visible water line.

Who answers a sewer call in Villa Rica or Whitesburg?

Villa Rica's Distribution and Collection office lists (678) 840-1401 and an online form for sewer line concerns, and Whitesburg's water department answers through City Hall at 770-834-0848. The Villa Rica town page and Whitesburg town page list more. For a contractor, call (678) 270-2458.

Who runs the sewer where you live

The sewer authority for a house can be the city, or a septic permit holder at the county health department. The page Before you hire has the three town offices and a checklist for talking to a contractor.

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Checked 1 Nov 2026