Sewer backup cleanup in Little Rock and North Little Rock
Gray water bubbling from the shower drain, or a toilet that overflows when the washer drains. A sewer backup is the one kind of water you should not clean up yourself.
A referral service, not a contractor. Your callback request is passed to an independent restoration company that works your part of central Arkansas. Riverstage does not perform the extraction, drying or repairs.
The first ten minutes
- Stop sending water down. No flushing, showers, dishwasher or laundry. Every gallon you use has to go somewhere, and right now that is your floor.
- Keep people and pets out. Sewage is Category 3 water under the industry's S500 standard, the most contaminated kind. Keep children, and anyone with asthma or a weakened immune system, well away from it.
- Mind the power. Stay out of rooms where sewage reaches outlets or cords.
- Call the sewer utility before a plumber if more than one drain is backing up. If the public main is blocked, that is the utility's problem to clear.
- Photograph it, then leave the cleanup to people with protective gear.
Sewer numbers by town
| Where | Sewer utility | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority | 501-223-1509 | Its listed line for sewer emergencies, including after hours. Weekday office: 501-376-2903. |
| North Little Rock | North Little Rock Wastewater | 501-945-7186 | The utility says crews handle sewer emergencies seven days a week. |
| Bryant | City of Bryant Water/Wastewater | 501-943-0468 | On-call line for after-hours water and wastewater problems. |
| Benton | Benton Utilities | 501-776-5930 | Listed for sewer back-ups and overflowing manholes. |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville Water Works / Sewer Commission | 501-982-6561 | The water works' emergency number; the Sewer Commission runs the city sewer. |
Numbers from each utility's own website, checked October 26, 2026. Outside these towns, check your sewer bill.
Whose pipe is blocked?
The City of Bryant spells out the split that most utilities in the area use: the city maintains the mains and manholes, and the service connection to the house is private, maintained by the owner or a plumber. Bryant encourages people to call it first to confirm whether the city main is blocked, and says someone is on call every day of the year.
A clue you can check: if only one fixture backs up, the clog is probably in that drain. If the floor drains, tubs and showers on the bottom level all back up at once, or the toilet gurgles when the washer drains, the blockage is further down the service line or in the main.
Cleanouts and backflow devices
Bryant suggests installing a cleanout if your line has none, so a blockage can be cleared from outside. It also describes backup prevention devices that let sewage escape at the cleanout instead of inside the house, and says you may need one if your plumbing sits below the cleanout or less than a foot above the nearest uphill sewer manhole. Look for a round cap 3 or 4 inches across, usually on the same side of the house as the sewer main.
When storms push sewage back
Heavy rain can overload sewers. In the September 1978 storm, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas records, sewers backed up all over western Little Rock while Rock Creek flooded.
High water on the Arkansas River matters too. The National Weather Service gauge notes for Little Rock say that at 21 feet, North Little Rock has to close sewer system floodgates to keep river water from backing up the sewers.
Why sewage cleanup is its own job
A supply line leak often leaves materials that can be saved where they are. Sewage does not. Carpet, pad, drywall below the water line, insulation and anything soft it touched generally come out, and the structure is cleaned and treated before drying. Ask the company what it will remove, how it will contain the area, and how it will show the space is clean before rebuilding starts.
Typical sewage cleanup costs
HomeGuide's national guide puts sewage cleanup at $7 to $15 or more per square foot, and $2,000 to $15,000 or more in total. These figures vary with size, how long the sewage sat and what has to be rebuilt.
| Scope | National range |
|---|---|
| Small spill, one room | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Backup across several rooms | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Large contamination | $7,000 – $15,000 |
| Extensive damage with rebuild | $15,000 – $50,000+ |
| Sewer camera inspection | $125 – $500 |
| Sewer line replacement | $2,000 – $10,000 |
Source: HomeGuide, sewage cleanup cost. HomeGuide also notes that after-hours or weekend calls can add $200 to $500.
Sewer backup questions
Will the city pay for damage from a sewer backup?
Each utility has its own policy. Bryant's website, for example, says the city generally does not pay for private property damage from a backup. Ask your own utility, and keep photos and notes either way.
Can I bleach it and dry it myself?
Sewage leaves contamination in porous materials that surface cleaning does not reach. Small hard-surface spills are one thing; anything that soaked carpet, drywall or a crawl space is a job for a company with protective gear.
Does a restoration company clear the sewer line?
Usually a plumber or the utility clears the line. The restoration company removes the sewage and contaminated materials, cleans and dries the structure.