Emergency Septic Backup: What to Do in El Paso County

How to tell a septic backup from a clogged house drain, what to do in the first hour, when El Paso County Public Health gets involved, and what a pump-out or repair visit covers.

Is a sewage backup a septic problem or a clogged house drain?

It depends on where the blockage is, and you often can't tell without someone opening the tank. Signs in the yard, such as wet ground or sewage odors over the tank or drain field, point to the septic system itself rather than a drain inside the house.

The U.S. EPA (retrieved 2026-10-28) lists these signs of a failing septic system:

• water and sewage from toilets, drains and sinks backing up into the home's plumbing;
• bathtubs, showers and sinks draining very slowly;
• gurgling sounds in the plumbing system;
• standing water or damp spots near or over the septic tank or drainfield;
• sewage odors around the septic tank or drainfield;
• bright green, spongy, lush grass over the septic tank or drainfield, even during dry weather.

A blockage can also sit in the pipe between the house and the tank. The Washington State Department of Health (retrieved 2026-10-28) says that when this pipe is clogged, drains run very slowly, "perhaps slower on lower levels of the building", or stop completely. It calls this "often an easy problem to fix", because a service provider can usually "snake the line". The same page notes the pipe can be crushed by vehicle or animal traffic or blocked by plant roots, which means replacing at least part of it. When the drain field fails or is saturated, it says, "sewage may backup into the home."

What should I do in the first hour of a septic backup?

Stop using water and the plumbing, and keep everyone away from the sewage. Then call a licensed septic cleaner, and contact El Paso County Public Health if you need guidance.

• Stop using the system. El Paso County Public Health's septic guidance (written for homes after a wildfire; retrieved 2026-10-28) says that if a septic system is damaged, backing up or malfunctioning, "discontinue use" and contact the department's Environmental Health Division for guidance on repair. Every flush, shower or load of laundry sends more water into a system that can't take it.
• Avoid contact with the sewage. The EPA says to avoid contact with sewage that backs up into the home "as it may contain harmful pathogens," and to contact your local health department for guidance. Keep children and pets out of the affected rooms, and off wet ground over the tank or drain field: Colorado's Regulation 43 counts untreated or partially treated wastewater reaching the ground surface as a failure, just like a backup into the building sewer.
• Protect anyone who cleans up. The EPA says cleanup personnel should wear protective clothing, such as long rubber gloves and face splash shields.
• Call a licensed cleaner. In El Paso County, only a company holding a systems cleaner license from El Paso County Public Health may pump a septic system (Chapter 8, section 8.4.F.2.a). The department publishes a Licensed Cleaners list with each company's name, city and phone number. This site doesn't rank or endorse any of them.

How do you clean up after sewage backs up into the house?

Disinfect everything the sewage touched with a mix of 90 percent water and 10 percent household bleach, then let the area dry completely. The EPA says not to use the area until it has been completely dry for at least 24 hours.

The EPA also says to thoroughly wash all equipment, tools and clothing used during cleaning, as well as the flooded area itself.

When does El Paso County Public Health get involved in a septic emergency?

When a licensed cleaner finds the system failing, or when the fix needs a repair permit. The county also issues permits that let a household keep using a malfunctioning system while it is being repaired.

El Paso County's Chapter 8 OWTS regulations (effective July 11, 2026; retrieved 2026-10-28) set out these steps:

• The cleaner reports it. A licensed systems cleaner must notify El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) in writing within 7 days of service if the system is in a state of malfunction or failure (section 8.4.F.2.d).
• The owner applies for a repair permit. The owner or occupant of a property whose system is not functioning as intended, or is in a state of failure, must obtain a repair permit and complete the repairs. Once EPCPH gives notice that the system is out of compliance or a hazard, the application is due within two business days. If reports aren't ready in that time, EPCPH may accept the application as long as they follow within 30 days (section 8.4.B.6.a).
• Temporary use may be allowed. Alongside a repair permit, EPCPH may issue an emergency use permit that allows continued use of the malfunctioning system for no longer than the repair period (section 8.4.B.6.b).
• The county inspects the repair. Repairs must be finished within the period set in the repair permit, and EPCPH then inspects the system to make sure it works (section 8.4.B.6.b).

Some repairs don't need a permit. Chapter 8 (section 8.4.B.2) exempts repairing or replacing tank baffles, electrical components, and collapsed or damaged building sewer and effluent lines, as long as the work matches an approved record drawing in the same location and configuration. Work on the drain field is a different matter. See drain field repair in El Paso County for the permit and licensing rules.

What does an emergency pump-out or repair visit involve?

A licensed cleaner pumps out the sludge and scum and checks the tank for the cause of the backup. If pumping doesn't solve it, the next step is a closer diagnosis of the pipes, pumps and drain field.

Under Chapter 8 (section 8.4.F.2.d), the cleaner must remove the accumulated sludge and scum from each compartment unless the owner directs otherwise, inspect the outlet tees and baffles, and check and clean, repair or replace the effluent screens. Missing or damaged outlet tees or baffles must be reported in writing to the owner and EPCPH within 7 days. The EPA adds that a service provider should check for leaks, examine the scum and sludge layers, and note repairs and the tank's condition in a service report.

When a system is malfunctioning, the EPA describes a typical inspection as including:

• evaluating the sludge and scum levels and determining the need to pump;
• assessing the effluent filter, if there is one;
• looking for signs of leakage, such as low water levels in the tank;
• looking for signs of backup, such as staining in the tank above the outlet pipe;
• evaluating the tank and its inlet and outlet pipes for damage and corrosion;
• verifying that electrical connections, pumps, controls and wiring are intact;
• possibly using a camera to look for blocked or collapsed pipes and leach lines;
• evaluating the drain field for standing water (surfacing) or unequal drainage.

Is a full septic tank the cause of every backup?

No. A tank that is due for pumping is one cause, but a blocked house-to-tank pipe or a failing drain field can also push sewage back into the house.

The EPA says a tank is due for pumping when the bottom of the scum layer is within six inches of the bottom of the outlet, the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet, or sludge and scum take up more than 25 percent of the liquid depth. The Washington State Department of Health names two other causes of sewage backing up: a clogged pipe from the house to the tank, and a drain field that has failed or is saturated with water. For the warning signs to watch for between visits, see signs your septic system needs service.

How much does emergency septic service cost in Colorado Springs?

We don't quote a figure, because we have not found a published, verifiable source for emergency septic prices in El Paso County. Ask a licensed cleaner for a written quote that lists what the visit includes.

If the job turns into a permitted repair, EPCPH charges its own permit fee on top of the contractor's price. The county's posted permit fees are listed on our warning signs page.