Last updated: July 28, 2026
Act first if sewage or unsafe water is an immediate danger
Leave the affected area and call 911 if sewage or floodwater is near live electricity, the floor or ceiling may collapse, you smell gas, or anyone is having trouble breathing. Stop using toilets, sinks, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines if wastewater is backing up inside.
Keep children and pets away from sewage. Do not touch wet electrical equipment. The CDC cleanup guidance warns that floodwater can contain sewage and other dangerous waste. If local officials issue a water advisory, follow the exact notice. A boil-water notice is different from a “do not drink” or “do not use” notice. Boiling does not remove fuel, chemicals, or toxins, as explained in the CDC advisory guide.
Bottom Line
For a sewer backup, call the wastewater utility or public works department and a licensed plumber. For a failing septic system, call the county health or environmental department and a licensed septic professional. For no running water, call the water utility first if you use public water, or a licensed well or pump contractor if you have a private well.
Do not wait for a grant office to stop a health hazard. After the danger is controlled, ask the city, county, utility, septic office, USDA, insurer, and 211 about help. It may be a grant, loan, payment plan, insurance benefit, or service. Many programs require approval before work starts.
A wastewater or water failure can make a home unsafe quickly. This national guide helps you identify the right first call, find possible payment help, and avoid paying for work another party may own.
Quick call guide
| Problem | Call first | Next call | What the help is |
|---|---|---|---|
| One slow or blocked drain | Licensed plumber or drain contractor | Landlord if you rent | Paid repair service unless a rental owner or warranty is responsible |
| Several drains backing up or sewage inside | Wastewater utility or public works emergency line | Licensed plumber and insurer | Utility investigation, private repair, and possibly an insurance benefit |
| Septic alarm, sewage surfacing, odors, or repeated backups | County health or environmental department | Licensed septic pumper, installer, or evaluator | Regulatory guidance and paid inspection or repair |
| No water on a public system | Water utility outage line | Licensed plumber if only your home is affected | Utility service or private plumbing repair |
| No water from a private well | Licensed well or pump contractor | Health department for testing or contamination concerns | Paid repair, testing, or possible rural assistance |
| Water shut off for an unpaid bill | Utility customer service | 211 and local assistance programs | Payment plan, bill discount, emergency aid, or referral |
| Problem in a rental home | Landlord or property manager in writing | Health/code office or legal aid if not fixed | Owner repair duty, inspection, enforcement, or legal help |
| Damage caused by a declared disaster | Insurer and FEMA | SBA, USDA, and local recovery office | Insurance, disaster assistance, or a disaster loan |
Not sure where to start? Read our repair help starting guide, then call 211 and ask which city, county, utility, or nonprofit serves your ZIP code.
Who to call for a sewer backup
One blocked sink may be a local clog. Sewage from several drains may point to the building drain, private sewer lateral, or public main.
Call the wastewater utility or public works department
Use the emergency number on the sewer bill or official utility website. Ask whether a crew can check the public main. Responsibility boundaries differ. A homeowner may own the lateral to the main, while another utility may handle part of it.
Call script: wastewater utility
“I have sewage backing up through [drain or toilet] at [address]. Several fixtures are affected. Is there a public sewer problem in this area? Can you send a crew or tell me where utility responsibility ends and private responsibility begins? Please give me a service-request number.”
Call a licensed plumber after the utility
If the public main is clear, ask a licensed plumber or sewer contractor to locate the blockage. Request a written diagnosis, camera findings if used, the exact failed section, an estimate, and permit requirements.
Before approving a large job, ask whether the utility has a sewer-lateral, backwater-valve, service-line, or low-income program. It may offer reimbursement, approved contractors, or a loan, but many utilities provide no private-side repair money.
Call your insurer before major cleanup
Take photos before removing damaged items when safe. Ask your insurer about sewer-backup coverage, cleanup, belongings, and temporary lodging. The NAIC insurance overview lists water-backup coverage as a common add-on. Your policy, cause, exclusions, and deductible control.
Do not assume the plumber, utility, or insurer will pay. Get each decision in writing. A utility finding that the public main is clear does not prove that insurance covers the private repair.
Who to call for a failed septic system
Warning signs include sewage backing into the home, a septic alarm, wet or unusually green ground over the drainfield, sewage odors, slow drains throughout the home, or wastewater surfacing outside.
Start with the local health or environmental department
Septic systems are usually regulated by a county, district, or state health office. Ask for the permit or “as-built” drawing, licensed-professional list, and repair-permit rules. The EPA septic questions explains local oversight.
Call script: septic office
“I own and live at [address]. The system has [backup, alarm, odor, or sewage on the ground]. Which office regulates this property? Can I get the permit or system drawing? Do I need an inspection or permit before pumping, repair, replacement, or a sewer connection? Is there a local financial assistance program?”
Use a licensed septic professional
A pump-out may give short-term relief, but it does not repair a failed pump, damaged tank, blocked pipe, saturated drainfield, or code problem. Ask the professional to separate urgent work from full replacement and explain the cause.
During flooding, reduce water use and follow local instructions. Do not touch wet septic electrical equipment. The CDC septic flood guide warns that contaminated standing water and septic electrical devices can be dangerous.
Check state and local septic funding
The EPA septic funding page lists state programs and federal routes. Help may be a grant, low-interest loan, tax credit, or principal forgiveness, often limited by watershed, income, system condition, or location.
EPA money is usually not a direct homeowner grant. A state or local program decides whether homeowners can receive financing or subsidies. Ask the county septic office what is open now.
Who to call when there is no running water
If you use public water
Check whether neighbors are also out. Call the utility number on your bill or official website. Ask about a main break, planned shutoff, advisory, meter problem, or account hold, and get a case number.
If service reaches the meter, call a licensed plumber. Do not enter a flooded crawlspace or use electrical equipment in a wet area.
If you have a private well
Call a licensed well or pump contractor. A power loss, pump, tank, line, dry well, or flood contamination may be responsible. If water smells like fuel or chemicals, do not drink it. The CDC well guidance says boiling or disinfection will not remove chemical contamination.
Ask the health department for certified testing. Do not buy costly treatment based only on an in-home sales test.
If service was shut off for a bill
Call the utility and ask for a customer assistance program, payment plan, hardship hold, leak adjustment, senior or disability discount, or reconnection policy. EPA says many utilities use bill discounts, flexible terms, lifeline rates, temporary help, or water-efficiency assistance. See the EPA affordability page.
You can also call 211 or use 211 utility help to look for local charities, emergency funds, and payment assistance.
LIHWAP is not currently paying household benefits. The temporary federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program ended. HHS states that LIHWAP funding ended and households cannot receive LIHWAP benefits now. Old web pages, social posts, or ads may still make it look open. Ask about utility and local programs instead.
Call script: water utility
“My home at [address] has no water. Is there an outage or advisory? If the account was shut off, what payment plan, hardship program, leak adjustment, discount, or reconnection option is available? What amount and documents are needed today?”
What renters should do
Report sewage, septic failure, or no water to the landlord immediately in a form you can save. Include photos, when it began, and whether toilets or sinks work. Keep related receipts.
If the owner does not act, call the health department, housing inspector, or code office. Do not deduct repair costs or stop rent without local legal advice. The USAGov tenant page links to state complaint routes.
Search for a legal aid office through the Legal Services Corporation. If you live in public housing or another HUD-assisted property, also contact the public housing agency or property oversight contact listed by HUD.
Grants, loans, and other ways to pay
There is no nationwide sewer, septic, or water-repair grant for every homeowner. Use several paths at once. Our national repair assistance guide explains the main systems.
| Option | Type of help | What it may cover | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| City or county repair program | Grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or regular loan | Health and safety plumbing, sewer lateral, water line, well, or septic work when locally allowed | Local service area, income, ownership, funding, inspection, and lien rules |
| USDA Section 504 | 1% loan; grant for eligible owners age 62 or older | Rural home repairs and health or safety hazards | Very-low income, rural address, owner occupancy, and credit rules |
| EPA/state septic financing | Often a low-interest loan; sometimes grant or principal forgiveness | Septic repair, replacement, upgrade, or connection where a state/local program exists | No universal direct EPA homeowner application |
| USDA Colonia grant | Grant | Water or wastewater connections, plumbing fixtures, limited bathroom work, and closing unsafe abandoned wells or septic tanks | Only qualifying Colonias in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas |
| Utility assistance | Payment plan, discount, rebate, leak adjustment, service, or local aid | Water bills, reconnection, conservation, or certain customer-side repairs | Varies by utility; may not pay for a full private sewer or septic replacement |
| Insurance | Insurance benefit | Covered cleanup, damaged property, temporary housing, or sewer-backup loss | Policy, endorsement, cause, exclusions, deductible, and claim deadline control |
| FEMA | Disaster assistance, not a full repair grant | Eligible uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused needs after a declared disaster | Only designated disasters and counties; aid is limited to eligible needs |
| SBA disaster loan | Repayable federal loan | Larger uninsured disaster-caused home repair costs | Must repay; declaration, credit, and ability-to-repay rules apply |
Local owner-occupied repair programs
Call your city or county housing, community development, neighborhood services, or planning office. Ask for “owner-occupied rehabilitation,” “emergency home repair,” “septic repair,” “well repair,” “sewer lateral,” or “CDBG home repair.” HUD’s CDBG program can support housing rehabilitation and water or sewer improvements, but HUD sends the money to states and local governments. Homeowners normally apply to a local program, not directly to HUD.
Local aid may be a grant, deferred loan, or forgivable loan secured by a lien. You may need to remain in the home and keep taxes and insurance current. Our CDBG and HOME guide explains these terms.
USDA Section 504 rural repair help
The USDA Section 504 program accepts ongoing applications through local Rural Development offices. It serves qualifying very-low-income rural owner-occupants who cannot obtain affordable credit elsewhere.
- Loans may repair, improve, modernize, or remove health and safety hazards.
- The maximum loan is $40,000, with a 20-year term and 1% fixed interest.
- Grants are for owners age 62 or older who meet the program rules and need to remove health and safety hazards.
- The maximum regular grant is $10,000. USDA lists a $15,000 grant maximum for eligible disaster-damaged homes in a presidentially declared disaster area.
- A grant must be repaid if the property is sold within three years.
Ask the local USDA office whether the work qualifies. Funding and approval time vary. See our rural repair guide for the application path.
USDA grants for qualifying Colonias
The USDA Colonia grant is a direct grant of up to $5,000 in lifetime assistance. It is limited to qualifying rural Colonias recognized before October 1, 1989, in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas. Applicants must own and occupy the home, meet the taxable-income rule, and have no delinquent federal debt.
Uses may include service lines, hookup fees, basic plumbing, a small bathroom addition, closing an abandoned well or septic tank, and changes needed to use the system. Apply year-round through the local Rural Development office.
Disaster assistance
If a declared disaster caused the damage, report it to insurance and save the claim number. Then check DisasterAssistance.gov or call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. FEMA assistance is limited and is not meant to restore every part of a home.
The SBA disaster loan is not a grant. Eligible homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 for a primary residence; homeowners and renters may apply for up to $100,000 for personal property. Each declaration sets deadlines and terms. Call 1-800-659-2955 or use 711 relay.
How to protect your application
- Control the immediate danger. Stop water use, keep people away from sewage, and call the utility or emergency service first.
- Find the system boundary. Ask who owns the failed pipe, lateral, meter, pump, tank, or connection. Get the answer in writing when possible.
- Document the problem. Take dated photos and video. Keep utility case numbers, inspection reports, violation notices, plumber findings, and insurance letters.
- Call programs before signing a contract. Many grant and repair programs will not reimburse work started before written approval. Ask what emergency stabilization is allowed.
- Get written estimates. Separate diagnosis, cleanup, excavation, permits, equipment, and restoration.
- Confirm the help type. Ask whether it is a grant, loan, deferred loan, rebate, service, or insurance payment, including liens and repayment.
- Keep a call log. Write down the office, person, date, case number, documents requested, next step, and next funding date.
Documents to gather
- Photo ID and proof that the home is your main residence
- Deed, title, mortgage statement, tax record, land contract, or accepted ownership proof
- Income proof for everyone in the household
- Recent water and sewer bills and any shutoff notice
- Homeowners or renters insurance policy and claim letters
- Photos, inspection results, septic permit, well record, or sewer camera report
- Written estimates and contractor license information
- Disaster registration, FEMA, SBA, or local recovery documents when relevant
- Property-tax, mortgage, and insurance status if a repair program asks
Use our repair document checklist to prepare for local and federal applications.
Call script: local repair office
“I own and live in a home at [address]. I have [sewer, septic, well, or water-line problem], and the estimated cost is [amount if known]. Do you have an emergency repair, owner-occupied rehab, CDBG, septic, well, or sewer-lateral program? Is the help a grant or loan, and must I wait for an inspection before work starts?”
Common delays, denials, and backup options
- Work started before the program inspected or approved it.
- The city program does not serve an address outside city limits.
- The failed pipe is considered private property.
- The repair is larger than the program cap or the home needs too much additional code work.
- The applicant is not on the deed, title, or accepted ownership record.
- Taxes, mortgage, insurance, or federal debt do not meet program rules.
- The contractor is not licensed, registered, or approved by the program.
- The program is closed, out of funds, or using a waitlist.
- A septic design cannot be approved for the lot without a different system or sewer connection.
- Insurance, FEMA, or another source may duplicate the same repair cost.
Ask for the reason in writing. Ask about an appeal, missing proof, a smaller safety scope, a waitlist, or the next funding cycle. Our denial help guide covers common decisions.
Call a HUD-participating housing counselor at 1-800-569-4287. Counselors may help with rehabilitation, budgets, disasters, and risky financing. Use the HUD counseling page to find an agency.
Also ask 211, the health department, aging agency, Community Action Agency, Habitat affiliate, and legal aid. A nonprofit may offer cleanup, small repairs, referrals, or a loan, but availability is local.
Watch for grant, contractor, and utility scams
Do not pay an application fee for a government home repair grant. Do not trust an unexpected caller who says you were selected for free sewer or septic money. Real programs require an application and do not demand gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment-app transfers.
- Call the utility back using the number on your bill, not a number in a threatening text.
- Check contractor licensing and insurance with the state or local agency.
- Get a written diagnosis, scope, price, start date, and permit responsibility.
- Do not pay the full contract price up front.
- Do not sign blank forms, transfer your deed, or accept contractor-arranged financing you do not understand.
- Ask whether financing places a lien on your home and what happens after a missed payment.
The FTC contractor guide explains common pressure tactics and unsafe financing. Read our home repair scam guide before sharing financial or identity documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for a broken sewer line?
It depends on where the break is and local ownership rules. The wastewater utility usually handles the public main. The homeowner may be responsible for the private lateral, sometimes including the section under the street. Ask the utility to mark the responsibility boundary in writing before approving a large repair.
Can a grant pay for septic replacement?
Sometimes. Local, state, watershed, CDBG, and rural programs may offer a grant, principal forgiveness, or a loan. EPA does not offer one universal direct homeowner septic grant. Start with the county septic office and the EPA state funding list.
Can USDA pay for sewer, septic, or well work?
USDA Section 504 may cover eligible health and safety repairs for qualifying very-low-income rural owner-occupants. The help may be a 1% loan or, for an eligible homeowner age 62 or older, a grant. USDA also has a separate grant of up to $5,000 for qualifying Colonias in four border states.
Is LIHWAP still open for water bills?
No. Federal LIHWAP funding is no longer available for household benefits. Ask your water utility about a payment plan, discount, leak adjustment, hardship program, or local fund, and call 211 for community assistance.
Should I start repairs before applying for assistance?
Usually not. Many programs will not pay for work started before inspection and written approval. Take any step needed to stop immediate danger, but ask the program what emergency work is allowed and keep photos, reports, invoices, and receipts.
What should a renter do after a sewage backup or water shutoff?
Notify the landlord or property manager in writing right away and keep proof. If the problem is not corrected, call the health department, housing inspector, or code office. Contact legal aid before withholding rent, paying for a major repair, or ending the lease because state rules differ.
About This Guide
How we researched this page: We checked official federal, state, local, tribal, utility, and trusted nonprofit sources linked in this article. We reviewed program names, service areas, eligibility rules, application routes, contact details, and whether each option is a grant, loan, rebate, service, or referral.
Our role: HomeRepairGrants.org is an independent information website. We do not run these programs, accept applications, choose recipients, or guarantee funding or approval.
Local changes: Funding, waitlists, service areas, income limits, and application periods can change. Confirm current details with the organization that runs the program before you apply, sign papers, pay money, or start repair work.
Corrections: See something outdated or incorrect? Email info@homerepairgrants.org and include the page URL and a reliable source when possible.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information. It is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, medical, disability-rights, contractor, or government-agency advice.
Last verified: July 28, 2026 | Next review: October 28, 2026