I had water shooting up out of my lower-level toilets and a sewer gas smell. What happened? Who's going to clean it up?

The City's Utilities Department cleans sewer main lines using a high-pressure water sprayer. While conducting this activity, our machine can create positive and negative pressures in the sewer line.


These pressures are normally released through the manholes and the roof vents on the house’s sewer line. If the house’s vent line is obstructed, the pressures will take the path of least resistance. This path can be through your floor drain or toilet. Air is the only thing that gets released. However, it will move any standing water in its path and release sewer gas into your home.


This is not a common occurrence, but does occasionally happen. Putting water in all of the drains in your house (especially lower-level floor drains) will stop the further release of sewer odor into your home. Clean-up is typically minor and is left to the home owner. Keeping your sewer and vent line clean will help prevent this from happening and minimize the chances of a backup caused from a blockage. After cleaning your sewer line, please call the City's Utilities Department so staff can make sure the debris from your line won't block the main sewer line.

Show All Answers

1. What is the quality of Edina’s water?
2. What is the hardness of Edina water and what is the recommended setting for my water softener?
3. Sometimes my water smells like bleach. Why? Is that harmful? What can I do to rid the water of that smell?
4. When does the City flush the fire hydrants?
5. How long does it take after flushing hydrants for my water to run clear?
6. My family from out of state says my water tastes different. Can that be true?
7. I want my water tested. Where do I take it?
8. I have orange spots on my white laundry. Are the clothes ruined?
9. Is “biodegradable” material “flushable” material?
10. Why do you flush all the hydrants on my street? Wouldn’t one or two suffice?
11. I had water shooting up out of my lower-level toilets and a sewer gas smell. What happened? Who's going to clean it up?
12. What should I do if there is water bubbling out of the street or from my yard?
13. What is the difference between a water main and a service line?
14. Does the City of Edina have watering restrictions?
15. What happens when a sewer backs-up?