Sewer Back-up

Damage to your property because of a sewer back-up is a potential problem for every County resident connected to the public sewer system. You may not be aware that from any point in the system, the introduction of items such as disposable diapers, tree roots, and grease, can cause clogs and back-ups in spite of regular County maintenance and cleaning. Howard County cannot guarantee that your sewer system will never back up and in most cases is not responsible to pay for damages resulting from a sewer back-up. If your sewer line does sustain a blockage, call the Bureau of Utilities at (410) 313-4900 before calling a plumber. This is the contact number for emergency and non-emergency problems.

Protection from financial loss caused by sewer back-ups can be obtained by requesting the addition of this coverage to your homeowner’s insurance policy.

For more information about sewer back-ups, please visit the Bureau of Utilities Sewage Backups website and the Fats Oils and Grease (FOG) Program website