Skip to the page
Trusted CantonWater Damage RestorationCall (678) 658-3988
Menu

Backed-up water from a drain, tub or toilet

Sewage Backup Cleanup in Canton, GA

A sewage backup is water pushed up through a drain, toilet or tub from the line or tank beyond it, and the CDC and EPA both treat water like that as contaminated. In Canton, Hickory Flat, Free Home, Sixes and Macedonia, call (678) 658-3988 after everyone is out of the room, and tell the contractor which one serves the house, city sewer or a septic tank.

Call (678) 658-3988
Technician in a hooded coverall and respirator removing a drywall panel

Weekday hours and the after-hours line

Canton lists its Water and Sewer Department at 770-704-1502, with weekday hours of 8 to 5. A backup that starts on a Saturday goes to the Operations number on the same page, 770-479-2392. The sources read for this page tie no sewer backup to any season, so the calendar that matters is the clock: note the time the water first rose, and pass it on.

What the contractor can look at

  1. Call (678) 658-3988 and name the fixtures that backed up, then say whether the house uses sewer or septic; the contractor arranges the visit from there.
  2. A look at what the water reached: flooring, baseboards, cabinet bases and the walls beside them.
  3. A plan for removal and cleaning that treats the area as contaminated. EPA advises a professional experienced with contaminated water when sewage is involved.
  4. A list of porous materials likely to go, such as carpet and pad. FEMA says to discard items that soak up water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected.
  5. A word on the line or tank itself, which belongs to a utility, a plumber or a septic contractor and not to this visit.
  6. Repair options, and which parts bring paperwork; the offices page names the offices.

Step back and get help if

  • Contaminated water on the floor: touch nothing, move the children and pets elsewhere, and do not wade in. The CDC says flooded homes may be contaminated with sewage.

  • Dark water around wiring, outlets or appliances: stay out and keep off the switches. If sparks fly or something smells burnt, get everyone outside and contact the electric utility or 911.

  • Smell gas in or near the wet area? Go outside without touching a switch, then report it: 877.427.4321 for the gas utility, or 911 if you would rather.

  • Sewer trouble reaching the street: inside Canton, the after-hours operations line is 770-479-2392; outside the city, the authority's main line is 770-479-1813. For anyone who feels ill, dial 911.

Four moves that spread the problem

  • Wading in to move furniture. The CDC says flooded homes may be contaminated with sewage.

  • Using suspect water for dishes, brushing teeth or baby formula. The CDC lists those three among the uses to avoid.

  • Keeping food that touched the water. The CDC puts it in four words: when in doubt, throw it out.

  • Running the HVAC system without a check. The CDC says a contaminated system spreads mold through the house.

Looks from the doorway

Keep to checks that feel easy from the doorway. None of them needs a tool, a ladder or a step into standing water.

  • Note whether one drain is affected or several. A single tub points one way and every fixture on the floor points another.

  • Find out which system serves the house: a sewer bill from the city or the authority, or a septic tank in the yard.

  • Stop adding water to the system while you wait: no laundry, no showers, no flushing.

  • Photograph the room from the doorway, wide first, without stepping in.

City line, authority line or septic tank: how to tell

  1. Check your water and sewer bill first. A bill from the City of Canton means the city's department answers for the line to the street.

  2. If the bill comes from the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, that office's number is on its page. Cherokee County's FAQ sends unincorporated addresses there.

  3. No sewer bill at all, and a tank in the yard? Cherokee County sends septic questions to North Georgia Health District Environmental Health.

  4. With the answer in hand, call (678) 658-3988 and tell the contractor which of the three it is.

Three short answers

How urgent is a sewage backup?

Red: water touching wiring, a gas smell, or someone who was exposed and feels unwell. Get clear, then 911 or the utility. Amber: the backup has stopped and the room is contained; use the call button and count the fixtures and rooms. Green: one sluggish drain, with nothing coming up in any other fixture.

Who answers for a backup: the city, the authority or a septic tank?

Canton's Water and Sewer Department answers at 770-704-1502 on weekdays from 8 to 5, and its page gives 770-479-2392 after hours for a water outage, leak or sewer emergency. Cherokee County's FAQ sends unincorporated addresses to the water and sewer authority at 770-479-1813 and septic questions to Environmental Health at 770-479-0444.

Does the line cover Hickory Flat, Free Home, Sixes and Macedonia too?

Yes. A backup in Canton, Hickory Flat, Free Home, Sixes, GA and Macedonia, GA reaches the same contractor. Which utility answers for the line differs by address, and each page lists it.

Who to ask about paperwork

Where a sewer line question ends and a cleanup question begins

The utility offices on the lines above answer for pipe and tank trouble. Their pages read for this site describe no cleanup program for the inside of a house. Septic evaluations and permits sit with North Georgia Health District Environmental Health, whose Cherokee County line is 770-479-0444. The offices page has the numbers side by side.

Side notes

Checked 1 Nov 2026

Call (678) 658-3988