If you experience a sewage backup in your home, here are the SIX STEPS TO FOLLOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:

1. TURN OFF ALL SINKS, SHOWERS, TOILETS, WASHING MACHINES, DISHWASHERS OR OTHER WATER SOURCES. IF THE BACKUP CONTINUES, TRY TO CONTACT ADJACENT NEIGHBORS AND ASK THEM TO STOP USING WATER.
2. CALL SERVPRO OF GREATER BOULDER – 303-494-2000 - OR OTHER CONTRACTOR TO PERFORM WATER EXTRACTION WITHIN YOUR HOME.
   1. The Colorado Special District Insurance Pool has negotiated special pricing with SERVPRO of Greater Boulder and claims that SERVPRO often is significantly less expensive than other providers. If you do call SERVPRO, it is important to tell them you live within Cherry Hills Heights Water & Sanitation District.
   2. When they arrive on scene, you will need to sign SERVPRO’s or other contractor’s agreement taking financial responsibility for their services.
3. CALL DES PIPELINE SERVICES - 303-475-5493. DES WILL CHECK FOR ANY BLOCKAGE IN THE DISTRICT’S MAIN LINES.
   1. Tell DES you live in Cherry Hills Heights Water & Sanitation District and that you’re experiencing a sewage backup in your home. Respond to DES’s questions.
   2. The District has contracted with DES to address emergency problems in the District’s sewer main lines only. DES will not repair your sewer line. DES’s phone line is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
   3. The District pays DES’s fees.
4. CALL A DRAIN/SEWER SERVICE COMPANY TO CHECK AND CLEAR YOUR DRAIN LINES OUT TO THE MAIN SEWER LINE IN THE STREET.
5. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.
6. NOTIFY CRS OF COLORADO THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A BACKUP.
   1. CRS of Colorado (District Management) can be reached at 303-381-4960. 

1. NEVER FLUSH WET WIPES, BABY WIPES, OR OTHER SO-CALLED FLUSHABLE WIPES DOWN THE TOILET. Notorious for causing clogged pipes.
2. NEVER FLUSH OR PLACE DOWN YOUR DRAINS OTHER INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS. More information is available in the Colorado Special District Insurance Pool’s Drain Facts flyer and Cover Your Flush website.
3. PERFORM REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON YOUR SEWER LINE. Consider at least an annual cleaning of your line and the use of a root killer like Roebic. You also may want to have your line videoed.
4. THE DISTRICT CONDUCTS REGULAR ASSESSMENT, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE DISTRICT’S SEWER MAIN LINES AND MANHOLES.

1. YOU ARE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING UP YOUR HOME AND REPAIRING DAMAGE. The exception would be if District negligence is later determined to have caused the backup. Do not wait to determine the cause before initiating water extraction. A blockage in the District’s main line doesn’t necessarily mean the District has been negligent.  
2. YOU ARE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING AND REPAIRING YOUR SERVICE LINES, INCLUDING THE CONNECTION TO THE DISTRICT’S MAIN LINE.
3. YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS PRIMARY. SUBMIT A CLAIM TO THEM. KEEP ALL RECEIPTS. Check to make sure your coverage is adequate.
4. THE COLORADO SPECIAL DISTRICT INSURANCE POOL PROVIDES NO-FAULT COVERAGE THAT MAY COVER CLEANUP COSTS AND DAMAGE TO PHYSICAL PROPERTY IN EXCESS OF YOUR OWN INSURANCE COVERAGE, UP TO $10,000. The District would report the claim to the Insurance Pool and the Pool’s claims adjuster would need to inspect your property. Contact CRS of Colorado (District Management) for more information. They can be reached at 303-381-4960. 

NOTE: If the problem is in your service line, and repair or replacement of the line is necessary, you and your contractor will need to comply with applicable requirements in the District’s Sewer Rules and Regulations, which may include obtaining a permit before starting work, notifying the District of the timing of the work, and arranging for inspection of the work before backfilling. For further information about applicable requirements for your circumstances, please call, or have your contractor call, Jim Landry with RG Engineers at 303-468-8482 between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. You may also call CRS of Colorado at 303-381-4960. 

WATER MAIN BREAKS OR LOW WATER PRESSURE?: You should NOT call DES for water main breaks or low water pressure issues. Instead, please call Denver Water for these issues. During regular business hours, call 303-893-2444. For after-hours water emergencies, call 303-628-6801. 

BACKGROUND: Our District’s wastewater flows to the City of Englewood, which processes it. The District is responsible for operating and maintaining the main sewer lines within the District. The District does NOT maintain or repair your home sewer lines – i.e., the lines that run from your home to the main lines. Also, despite its name, the District does NOT maintain or repair the water supply mains or the water supply lines for your house. Denver Water is responsible for the water supply mains, and homeowners are responsible for the water service lines serving their home.

Here are some companies in the area that clean and/or scope homeowner sewer lines (the District does not endorse these companies - they are listed for convenience only):

• Mile High Drain – 303-726-3888
• Garvin’s Sewer Service – 303-571-5114
• Our Drain and Sewer Company – 720-435-7315