Backed-up drains and toilets around Roswell
Sewage Backup Cleanup in Roswell, GA
Is foul, dark water welling up from a toilet, the tub or a floor drain? A sewage backup in a Roswell-area house is more than a wet floor, since CDC lists human waste among what floodwater can carry. Stay out of the water, and once children and pets are clear, call (678) 679-2562 and name the drains that are backing up.
Roswell-area notes
- For sewer trouble anywhere in North Fulton, the county's own page gives 404-612-3061 and says the line runs after hours; Johns Creek's public works FAQ adds a prompt, press 1 for emergencies. Roswell's water utility page says Fulton County takes care of every sewer line in the city.
- Sandy Springs sends sewer blockages and backups to Fulton County Sewer Services. None of the Roswell, Sandy Springs or Fulton pages read for this site says who owns the private stretch of line between the house and the main, so ask Fulton County before paying anyone to dig.
- Milton does not provide water or sewer service. Its page says a home with no sewer bill likely has a septic system, and that the owner maintains, repairs and replaces every component of it.
Back away and get help if
Dark water rising through a drain, tub or toilet:
leave it alone and walk children and pets out of the room. Anyone who touched it washes with soap and clean water.
Water on the floor near outlets, cords or appliances:
stay out of it. Sparks or a burning smell mean 911 or the power company, and the wiring is for an electrician.
Food, ice or baby formula that touched the water:
throw it out. CDC's rule is that when in doubt, it goes in the trash.
A sewer smell with a gas smell, or a hiss from an appliance:
leave, and from outside tell 911 or Atlanta Gas Light, whose number is 877.427.4321.
Five reflexes to resist
Wading in to clean up
CDC puts staying out of the water first; where that cannot be avoided, it lists rubber boots, plastic gloves and goggles.
Keeping the carpet
CDC lists rugs, cloth and drywall among the things to throw away when they cannot be disinfected.
Rinsing off with a wipe and moving on
CDC says skin gets washed with soap and clean water soon after contact, with wipes or sanitizer only when no water is on hand.
Letting children back in early
CDC says to keep them out of floodwater areas and to disinfect any toys the water touched.
Calling the wrong office
A county sewer main, a septic tank and the pipe under the yard each have a different answer, so start with the numbers in the notes above.
Looks from dry ground
Keep to looks from dry ground that feel comfortable. Anything that needs a ladder, a wet floor or a panel cover belongs to the contractor or an electrician.
- Write down which drains are backing up, and whether the lowest toilet or tub is one of them.
- From a distance, photograph how far the water spread. Do not step into it.
- Ask the neighbors whether their drains are slow too. A trouble that runs down the street and a trouble in one house go to different places.
- List what the water touched, from rugs and boxes to appliances. FEMA's claim checklist asks for a list of damaged or missing items.
Why this one is not left for the weekend
Sewage that reached carpet, drywall, cabinets or more than one room is not a mop job. EPA says sewage damage is work for someone who has handled it before.
Call (678) 679-2562 as soon as the water has stopped moving and the people are clear of it.
Septic tanks and sewer lines
Milton's page says Georgia's Environmental Protection Division permits wastewater systems and names no city or county contact for septic repairs. Cleanup and rebuilding questions go to each town's desk. Start at the paperwork page.
Pages behind these facts
- CDC, Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home (last reviewed 24 Aug 2026)
- CDC, Safety Guidelines: Floodwater (last reviewed 24 Aug 2026)
- EPA, Mold Cleanup in Your Home (updated 4 Jun 2026)
- FEMA, What information do I need to file a home insurance claim?
- Fulton County Government, Emergency Repairs (Water Services)
- City of Johns Creek, Public Works FAQs
- City of Roswell, Water Utility
- City of Sandy Springs, Utilities
- City of Milton, Water, Sewer and Septic Information
Checked 1 Nov 2026