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Michigan / Oakland County / sewer backup cleanup

Top-Rated Sewer Backup Cleanup in Oakland County, MI (2026)

We compared 45 restoration companies serving Oakland County for sewer backup cleanup, using their ratings, customer reviews and the facts on their own websites. Updated November 2026. Below the list: what to do first, and what every town in Oakland County has on record.

Who is the best sewer backup cleanup company in Oakland County?

By our published formula for this job, Response Flood & Fire ranks first of 45 companies serving Oakland County, with 4.9 stars from 241 ratings and 7 reviews that mention this kind of job. weDRY Restoration ranks second and 1-800 Water Damage of Southeast Michigan third. Data checked November 2026.

Companies compared for sewer backup cleanup (November 2026)

#CompanyOfficeRatingJob reviews24/7Score /100
1Response Flood & FireRochester Hills4.9★ · 2417 of 192Stated84
2weDRY RestorationAuburn Hills5.0★ · 1766 of 156Stated82
31-800 Water Damage of Southeast MichiganNot listed5.0★ · 36811 of 346Stated81
4Prime RestorationSterling Heights5.0★ · 1861 of 148Stated80
5Pristine Clean and RestorationAuburn Hills5.0★ · 3421 of 280Stated77
6DriForce Property RestorationTroy4.9★ · 1924 of 168Stated76
7DRYmedic Restoration Services of Bloomfield HillsBloomfield Township4.8★ · 53517 of 469Stated73
8Micronix Mold & Trauma Services LLCDetroit5.0★ · 1320 of 110Stated72
9SERVPRO of Brighton, Novi, Bloomfield, Howell, Highland, White Lake, CommerceBrighton5.0★ · 1771 of 167Stated69
10R & S Restores Inc.Novi5.0★ · 312 of 29Stated68
11Mr. MoldHighland Township4.8★ · 5740 of 497Stated67
12Rytech Restoration Northwest DetroitWixom4.9★ · 982 of 84Stated66
13PuroClean of Bloomfield HillsTroy4.9★ · 772 of 71Stated65
14Dr MoldPlymouth5.0★ · 781 of 69Not stated65
15CONSTRUCTEAMFraser4.9★ · 1621 of 154Stated64

Job reviews: reviews that mention a sewer or sewage backup, out of the company's reviews with text. Ratings come from each company's public Google Business Profile.

How we ranked them for this job

Each company gets a Compare Score out of 100 from the formula on our methodology page: recent work in the last 6 months (25 points), adjusted rating (22), distance to the nearest office (15), water-job proof (14), a bonus for 100 or more five-star reviews (7), owner replies (6), 24/7 service and IICRC certification stated on its own site (6), and our badge on its own website (5). On this page the 14-point water-job proof part measures the share of a company's reviews that mention a sewer or sewage backup instead of water jobs in general. 5% or more earns the full 14. No company can pay to appear or to move up.

What to do in the first hour

  1. 1

    Stop using water everywhere in the house. Every toilet, sink, tub, washer and dishwasher drains to the same sewer lateral. Until the line clears, any water you run comes back up the lowest drain.

  2. 2

    Keep people and pets away from the water. Sewage carries bacteria and viruses. Keep children and pets out of the area. If you must walk in it, wear rubber boots and gloves, and wash after.

  3. 3

    Shut off power to the wet area if you can do it dry. Do not stand in water to reach the panel. If the panel is in the wet area, call the power company.

  4. 4

    Check whether neighbors have it too. If only your house backed up on a dry day, the blockage is usually in your own lateral, and a plumber clears it. If several houses backed up during a storm, the public sewer likely surcharged, and the city or county needs to know the same day.

  5. 5

    Photograph the water line and every damaged item. Shoot the floor drain, the fixtures that backed up, the water line on walls, and each item before it goes out. Write down the date and time it started.

  6. 6

    Report it and send written notice. Call the sewer number for your town (listed below). If the public sewer may be the cause, Michigan law requires written notice to the agency within 45 days.

  7. 7

    Call your insurer and a restoration company. Ask your insurer whether your policy carries water or sewer backup coverage and what its limit is. Ask the restoration company how it contains, removes and disinfects sewage-contaminated material.

Clean, gray or black water: what came into the house

Kind of waterTypical sourceHow it is handled
Clean waterA supply line, a water heater, rain through a windowDried in place when caught early
Gray waterA washer or dishwasher drain, a sump pit that satCleaned and dried; soaked pad and some porous items removed
Black water (sewage)A floor drain, toilet or tub backing up from the sewerPorous materials it touched are removed; hard surfaces cleaned and disinfected; then dried

The top 15 of 45 companies for sewer backup cleanup in Oakland County

Rochester Hills, MI

4.9★ · 241 ratings received

Top Rated 2026, Compare Water Damage Restoration
Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Local page: floodfirefix.com/service-areas/water-damage-restoration-oakland-county-mi

Best for

  • 7 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • 4.9 stars from 241 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 1753 W Hamlin Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, USA

License verified: Michigan license #262400246, checked on the Michigan LARA lookup in November 2026.

2. weDRY Restoration

Top-rated 2026

Auburn Hills, MI

5.0★ · 176 ratings received

Top Rated 2026, Compare Water Damage Restoration
Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 6 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • 5.0 stars from 176 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 2285 N Opdyke Rd Ste e, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, USA

5.0★ · 368 ratings received

Top Rated 2026, Compare Water Damage Restoration
Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewage24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-30.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 11 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • 5.0 stars from 368 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: Service area business. No public office address.

Sterling Heights, MI

5.0★ · 186 ratings received

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-28.

Local page: primerestorationllc.com/oakland-county

Best for

  • 1 customer review mentions a sewer or sewage backup
  • 5.0 stars from 186 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 13854 Lakeside Circle Ste 558, Sterling Heights, MI 48313

License verified: Michigan license #262500492, checked on the Michigan LARA lookup in November 2026.

Auburn Hills, MI

5.0★ · 342 ratings received

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewage24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 1 customer review mentions a sewer or sewage backup
  • 5.0 stars from 342 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 1080 Centre Rd Ste B, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, USA

Troy, MI

4.9★ · 192 ratings received

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification, founded 2009 on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 4 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • 4.9 stars from 192 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 1470 Souter Blvd, Troy, MI 48083, USA

License verified: Michigan license #2102202262, checked on the Michigan LARA lookup in November 2026.

Bloomfield Township, MI

4.8★ · 535 ratings received

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewageStorm24/7 stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 17 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Watch for

  • No IICRC certification stated on its site; ask for the certificate

Address: 795 Industrial Ct, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302, USA

Detroit, MI

5.0★ · 132 ratings received

Water damageMoldSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-10-01.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 5.0 stars from 132 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service
  • Its site states IICRC certification

Address: 235 Woodland St, Detroit, MI 48202

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification, founded 1967 on its own site — source, checked 2026-10-01.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 1 customer review mentions a sewer or sewage backup
  • 5.0 stars from 177 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 2094 Pless Dr, Brighton, MI 48114

Novi, MI

5.0★ · 31 ratings received

Water damageMoldSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Local page: n/a

Best for

  • 2 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • Its site states 24/7 service
  • Its site states IICRC certification

Address: 24301 Catherine Industrial Dr, Novi, MI 48375, USA

Highland Township, MI

4.8★ · 574 ratings received

Water damageMoldSewage24/7 stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Sewage, 24/7 service on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Best for

  • Most ratings received on this list
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Watch for

  • No IICRC certification stated on its site; ask for the certificate

Address: 2730 E Highland Rd, Highland Township, MI 48356, USA

Wixom, MI

4.9★ · 98 ratings received

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewage24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, 24/7 service, IICRC certification, founded 1995 on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-23.

Best for

  • 2 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • 4.9 stars from 98 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 28243 Beck Rd Suite #B-10, Wixom, MI 48393, USA

Troy, MI

4.9★ · 77 ratings received

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewage24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, 24/7 service, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-28.

Best for

  • 2 customer reviews mention a sewer or sewage backup
  • 4.9 stars from 77 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 2717 Industrial Row Dr, Troy, MI 48084

Plymouth, MI

5.0★ · 78 ratings received

Water damageMoldSewageStormIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Sewage, Storm, IICRC certification on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-30.

Best for

  • 1 customer review mentions a sewer or sewage backup
  • 5.0 stars from 78 ratings
  • Its site states IICRC certification

Watch for

  • No 24/7 service stated on its site; call to confirm after-hours response

Address: 580 Forest Ave Unit 3A, Plymouth, MI 48170

Fraser, MI

4.9★ · 162 ratings received

Water damageMoldFire & smokeSewageStorm24/7 statedIICRC stated

Why choose this provider: states Water damage, Mold, Fire & smoke, Sewage, Storm, 24/7 service, IICRC certification, founded 2005 on its own site — source, checked 2026-09-28.

Best for

  • 1 customer review mentions a sewer or sewage backup
  • 4.9 stars from 162 ratings
  • Its site states 24/7 service

Address: 31780 Groesbeck Hwy, Fraser, MI 48026

License verified: Residential Builder Company #2102180680, checked on the Michigan LARA lookup in November 2026.

Water in your home in Oakland County right now?

Talk to a local restoration crew in minutes, day or night.

Floods and heavy rain in Oakland County, 2010-2025

From 2010 through 2025, the federal storm record logs 14 flash floods and 7 other flood events in Oakland County, the kind of rain that overloads sewers and drains and backs water into basements. (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, read 2026-10-02)

DateWhereEventStrengthProperty damageRecord
2026-04-04OrtonvilleFlood$500,000NOAA
2025-07-16GoodisonFlash FloodNot givenNOAA
2025-04-25LakevilleFlash FloodNot givenNOAA
2021-10-08OxfordFlash Flood$3.4 millionNOAA
2021-08-27FerndaleFlash Flood$100,000NOAA
2021-07-24Bloomfield HillsFlash FloodNot givenNOAA
2021-06-26OakwoodFlash Flood$2.0 millionNOAA
2020-08-28FerndaleFloodNot givenNOAA
2020-08-28FerndaleFlash FloodNot givenNOAA
2020-07-10FerndaleFlash FloodNot givenNOAA
2020-01-11NewarkFloodNot givenNOAA
2019-08-12FranklinFloodNot givenNOAA
2019-08-12FranklinFlash FloodNot givenNOAA
2017-08-28NoviFlash FloodNot givenNOAA
2016-09-29Wixom Spencer ArptFlash Flood$500,000NOAA
2016-08-16Oakley ParkFloodNot givenNOAA

Shown: the most recent flash flood, flood and heavy rain events. Newest first.

Storm reports by town in Oakland County

TownFlood reportsAll storm reportsLargest hailStrongest gustLatest report
Troy0161 inabout 64 mph2025-03-30
Novi113None loggedabout 64 mph2025-06-24
Rochester Hills013None loggedabout 64 mph2026-05-18
Farmington0110.75 inabout 64 mph2024-06-19
West Bloomfield Township0101 inabout 64 mph2026-06-10
Birmingham09None loggedabout 63 mph2024-08-27
Bloomfield Hills181 inabout 70 mph2025-06-24
Auburn Hills070.88 inabout 63 mph2024-08-27
Royal Oak041.5 inabout 60 mph2020-07-07
Southfield04None loggedabout 64 mph2023-04-05
Farmington Hills040.75 inabout 63 mph2019-06-01

Reports logged by NOAA at locations inside each town, 2010-2025. Towns without a row had no report placed inside their limits; storms there are logged under nearby places.

Oakland County: what is on record

  • The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner operates three wastewater treatment facilities, four Retention Treatment Basins (RTBs), and 16 community septic systems, with capacities ranging from 3,500 gallons of wastewater a day to 30 million gallons a day. (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, Wastewater)
  • The Water Resources Commissioner directly runs the sewage system for 16 Oakland County municipalities: Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Bloomfield Hills, Commerce Township, Farmington Hills, Franklin, Keego Harbor, Lake Orion, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford Township, Pontiac, Royal Oak Township, Walled Lake, White Lake Township, and part of Novi. (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, Basement Flooding Claim)
  • To file a PA 222 basement flooding or sewage backup claim with the Water Resources Commissioner, the written notice must reach the agency within 45 days of discovering the damage and must include the claimant's name, address, and phone number, the affected property's address, the date of discovery, and a brief description of the claim. A claim can be filed online at forms.oakgov.com/259. (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, Basement Flooding Claim)
  • The county's RainSmart Rebates program pays homeowners in southeast Oakland County up to $2,000 per property toward rain barrels ($125 each, up to two), rain gardens ($6 per square foot, at least 75% native species), and trees ($250 each, up to two), after a required $25 site assessment. As of this check the program was not accepting new applications for 2026. (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, RainSmart Rebates)
  • A resident reaches Oakland County's Health Division for environmental health questions at 248-858-1280 or 248-858-0178, or health@oaklandcountymi.gov. (Oakland County Health Division)

Sewer laterals and house age, town by town in Oakland County

The sewer lateral usually dates from when the house was built. Older laterals of clay or cast iron crack and root more often. Oldest first.

TownMedian year homes were builtHomes built before 1960Owner-occupied
Royal Oak195661%68%
Birmingham196050%77%
Farmington196639%62%
Northville196836%80%
Southfield196928%53%
Bloomfield Hills197225%86%
Troy197711%73%
Farmington Hills197816%65%
West Bloomfield Township198014%84%
Rochester Hills198411%77%
Auburn Hills199115%51%
Novi19935%66%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25035, B25034 and B25003.

Sewer backup cleanup town by town in Oakland County

Novi

NOAA's storm record logs 13 storm reports (1 flood), gusts to about 64 mph at locations in Novi from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2025-06-24. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Novi: 1-800 Water Damage of Southeast Michigan. Compare water damage restoration companies in Novi

Royal Oak

  • Royal Oak draws the line at the sewer connection: the city is responsible only for the city main line, and the resident is responsible for the sewer clean-out up to and including the sewer connection. (City of Royal Oak, Responding to Street/Basement Flooding)
  • Royal Oak names tree roots, disposable diapers, and grease as the main obstructions that block a private sewer service line and send water backing up into floor cracks, wall seams, and floor drains. (City of Royal Oak, Responding to Street/Basement Flooding)
  • If a Royal Oak crew finds the blockage is on the homeowner's side of the line, the homeowner is advised to contact a plumber or a sewer cleaning company at their own cost; the city responds immediately only when the blockage is in the city main. (City of Royal Oak, Responding to Street/Basement Flooding)
  • A Royal Oak resident with a basement water issue calls the Department of Public Service at 248-246-3300 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (City of Royal Oak, Sewer Division)

NOAA's storm record logs 4 storm reports (0 flood), hail up to 1.5 inches, gusts to about 60 mph at locations in Royal Oak from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2020-07-07. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Royal Oak: Prime Restoration. Compare water damage restoration companies in Royal Oak

Southfield

  • Southfield tells a resident to contact the Water Department immediately on discovery of a sewer or drain overflow, at 248-796-4850, with 248-796-4899 or the police desk at 248-796-5500 after hours. (City of Southfield, Sewer and Drain Backups)
  • Under PA 222, a Southfield resident with a sewage or stormwater backup must file a written claim with the city within 45 days of discovering the overflow, routed to the Office of Management and Budget at 248-796-5260. (City of Southfield, Sewer and Drain Backups)
  • Southfield publishes a "Septic & Sewage System 101" brochure for residents through its Water & Sewer division. (City of Southfield, Water & Sewer)

NOAA's storm record logs 4 storm reports (0 flood), gusts to about 64 mph at locations in Southfield from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2023-04-05. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Southfield: Prime Restoration. Compare water damage restoration companies in Southfield

Bloomfield Hills

  • Bloomfield Hills is one of the 16 Oakland County municipalities whose sewage system the county's Water Resources Commissioner runs directly, rather than the city running its own sanitary sewer department. (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, Basement Flooding Claim)
  • A Bloomfield Hills resident reaches city hall at 248-644-1520 to raise a sewer or watershed concern, since the city's own engineering pages route sewage system questions to the county. (City of Bloomfield Hills)

NOAA's storm record logs 8 storm reports (1 flood), hail up to 1 inches, gusts to about 70 mph at locations in Bloomfield Hills from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2025-06-24. (NOAA event record)

  • 2021-07-24, flash flood: A quick 2.5 inches of rain in thunderstorms lead to flash flooding of the underpass at the intersection of Maple Road and South Easton Street. (NOAA)

Highest ranked for this job in Bloomfield Hills: Response Flood & Fire. Compare water damage restoration companies in Bloomfield Hills

Farmington

NOAA's storm record logs 11 storm reports (0 flood), hail up to 0.75 inches, gusts to about 64 mph at locations in Farmington from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2024-06-19. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Farmington: 1-800 Water Damage of Southeast Michigan. Compare water damage restoration companies in Farmington

Farmington Hills

NOAA's storm record logs 4 storm reports (0 flood), hail up to 0.75 inches, gusts to about 63 mph at locations in Farmington Hills from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2019-06-01. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Farmington Hills: 1-800 Water Damage of Southeast Michigan. Compare water damage restoration companies in Farmington Hills

Auburn Hills

  • An Auburn Hills resident reports a sewer backup to the Department of Public Works at 248-391-3777 during business hours; after hours, weekends, and holidays the call routes to the Auburn Hills Police Department. (City of Auburn Hills, Public Utilities)
  • Auburn Hills maintains a formal Sewer Back-Up Policy and a Sewer Back Ups Claim Form, filed with the Public Utilities Manager at 1500 Brown Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. (City of Auburn Hills, Public Utilities)
  • Auburn Hills points residents to Michigan Public Act 222 of 2001 as the governing law for a sewer backup claim against the city. (City of Auburn Hills, Public Utilities)

NOAA's storm record logs 7 storm reports (0 flood), hail up to 0.88 inches, gusts to about 63 mph at locations in Auburn Hills from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2024-08-27. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Auburn Hills: Response Flood & Fire. Compare water damage restoration companies in Auburn Hills

Northville

  • Northville tells a resident that the city does not have the legal authority or obligation to repair a private sewer lead, and it is the property owner's responsibility to call a licensed plumber or drain service to correct a problem in that line. (City of Northville, Water & Sewer)
  • Northville's water and sewer rates, effective June 1, 2026, charge $7.58 per 1,000 gallons used, plus a bi-monthly ready-to-serve charge ranging from $27.07 for up to a 1-inch meter to $541.23 for a 6-inch meter. (City of Northville, Water & Sewer)
  • A Northville resident calls the Department of Public Works at 248-449-9930 during business hours (8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays), or Northville Community Dispatch non-emergency at 248-349-1234 after hours, and must still file a written claim within 45 days with the City Clerk at 215 W Main Street. (City of Northville, Water & Sewer)

Highest ranked for this job in Northville: 1-800 Water Damage of Southeast Michigan. Compare water damage restoration companies in Northville

Troy

  • A Troy resident with a sewage or stormwater system overflow must file a written claim with the City Attorney's Office, 500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, MI 48084, within 45 days after the backup is discovered, or lose the right to recover damages. (City of Troy, Water and Sewer Legal Claims)
  • A Troy resident reports a backup to the Water Division at 248-524-3370 during business hours or to the Troy Police Department at 248-524-3477 after hours. (City of Troy, Water and Sewer Legal Claims)
  • Troy requires backflow prevention device testing every three years for residential properties, based on the resident's assigned water billing district, and every year for commercial properties, with results submitted through the city's Swift Comply program. (City of Troy, Backflow Prevention)

NOAA's storm record logs 16 storm reports (0 flood), hail up to 1 inches, gusts to about 64 mph at locations in Troy from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2025-03-30. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Troy: Response Flood & Fire. Compare water damage restoration companies in Troy

Rochester Hills

  • A Rochester Hills resident reaches the Department of Public Services at 248-656-4600, with water and sewer billing questions handled separately by the Fiscal Department at 248-656-4688. (City of Rochester Hills, Public Services / Engineering)
  • On a Rochester Hills lot, the city owns only the storm inlet grates that take direct road runoff; the individual sump line discharge for the lot belongs to the property owner. (City of Rochester Hills, Stormwater)

NOAA's storm record logs 13 storm reports (0 flood), gusts to about 64 mph at locations in Rochester Hills from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2026-05-18. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Rochester Hills: Response Flood & Fire. Compare water damage restoration companies in Rochester Hills

West Bloomfield Township

NOAA's storm record logs 10 storm reports (0 flood), hail up to 1 inches, gusts to about 64 mph at locations in West Bloomfield Township from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2026-06-10. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in West Bloomfield Township: Prime Restoration (office in West Bloomfield Township). Compare water damage restoration companies in West Bloomfield Township

Birmingham

NOAA's storm record logs 9 storm reports (0 flood), gusts to about 63 mph at locations in Birmingham from 2010 through 2025. Latest: thunderstorm wind on 2024-08-27. (NOAA event record)

Highest ranked for this job in Birmingham: Response Flood & Fire. Compare water damage restoration companies in Birmingham

Your line or the public sewer: who pays

Who pays depends on where the blockage sits. Many towns make the homeowner responsible for the lateral from the house to the main; the town notes below say where your town draws the line when it publishes it.

Signs the problem is your lateral

Only your house is affected, the weather is dry, the backup gets worse when you run water, or roots have been a problem before. A plumber with a sewer camera can show where the line is blocked or broken.

Signs the problem is the public sewer

Several houses on the street back up at once, usually during or right after heavy rain, and water keeps rising even with nothing running inside.

Why it matters for the claim

Michigan law excludes backups caused by a blockage in the private lateral or building drain. A camera report or a plumber invoice that names the cause helps either way.

What sewage cleanup includes

Sewage cleanup is treated differently from a clean-water leak because of what the water carries.

Containment

The crew seals off the area so contaminated material is not tracked through the house.

Removal of porous materials

Carpet, pad, drywall, insulation and particleboard that sewage touched are removed and bagged. Drywall is usually cut well above the water line.

Cleaning and disinfecting

Concrete, framing and other hard surfaces are cleaned and treated with a disinfectant before drying starts.

Drying and readings

Dehumidifiers and air movers run until moisture readings reach a dry target. Ask for the readings in writing.

Insurance and sewer backups

Backup coverage is often separate

Many homeowner policies cover water that backs up through a sewer or drain only if a water backup endorsement was added. Look on your declarations page for "water backup" or "sewer backup" and its limit.

Limits can be low

Backup endorsements often carry their own dollar limit. A finished basement can exceed it. Ask your agent what yours pays before a storm, not after.

Keep the paper trail

Photos, the plumber or camera report, the restoration invoice and your written notice to the city all support both the insurance claim and any claim against the sewer agency.

Michigan rules that apply

  • To file a PA 222 claim for sewage backup damage against a Michigan governmental agency, the claimant's written notice must reach the agency within 45 days of the date the damage was discovered, or should have been discovered, and must include the claimant's name, address, phone number, the affected property's address, the date of discovery, and a brief description of the claim. (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, Basement Flooding Claim)

Related lists

FAQ

Who is the best sewer backup cleanup company in Oakland County?

Response Flood & Fire ranks first of 45 by our published formula for this job, with 4.9 stars from 241 ratings and 7 reviews that mention this kind of job. weDRY Restoration ranks second and 1-800 Water Damage of Southeast Michigan third.

Can I clean up a sewer backup myself?

A small amount on bare concrete can be cleaned with gloves, boots and a disinfectant. Sewage on carpet, drywall or anything porous, or more than a small puddle, should be handled by a crew because those materials have to be removed.

Can carpet be saved after a sewage backup?

Carpet and pad soaked by sewage are normally thrown out, because the contamination cannot be reliably cleaned out of them.

Why does my floor drain back up when it rains?

Heavy rain fills the sewer, especially where downspouts or footing drains feed it. When the pipe is full, water rises out of the lowest opening it reaches, which is usually a basement floor drain.

How is this list ranked?

By the same published 100-point Compare Score as every list on this site, with one change: the 14-point water-job proof part measures the share of each company's reviews that mention sewer or sewage backups. No company can pay to appear or to move up.