What is the very first thing to do for sewage?

Evacuate the affected area immediately. Sewage is Category 3 biohazard contamination.

Should I call insurance or restoration first?

Call restoration first. Emergency mitigation work is covered without prior adjuster approval on virtually every standard policy — it falls under the homeowner's duty to prevent further damage. The adjuster gets assigned in parallel.

How fast can Catalyst arrive?

For active emergencies in our core service region we target on-site arrival within 1–2 hours. Extended areas are 2–3 hours typical.

What does emergency mitigation typically cost?

Emergency mitigation is almost always covered by your homeowners insurance when caused by a sudden and accidental event. We bill direct to most major carriers and document everything the carrier needs to settle.

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Emergency response

Sewage

Backup, overflow, Category 3 contamination.

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What we will do

Full PPE crews, EPA-registered antimicrobials, certified biohazard disposal, structural drying, and documentation aligned with carrier requirements. Direct billing where allowed.

Service area

MD · PA · WV · VA

Dispatch

24/7

In the next 30 minutes

Do these, in order.

These are the steps we tell people in the first 5 minutes of a call. Safety first, then documentation, then the phone.

Step 1
Evacuate the affected area immediately. Sewage is Category 3 biohazard contamination.
Step 2
Cut electrical to the affected level if water has reached outlets or appliances.
Step 3
Do NOT attempt cleanup yourself — cross-contamination is the real hazard.
Step 4
Photograph from a safe distance only.
Step 5
Confirm your insurance Water Backup endorsement is in place before claiming. Call us for the cleanup.

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Deeper context

Scenario-specific guides for sewage.

For more specific situations, we have city-by-city scenario pages with detailed cause analysis.

Sewer backup from the main lineCategory 3 (black water) events require biohazard-rated cleanup — and most homeowners do not have the endorsement needed for coverage.

About this service

Sewage Cleanup

Sewage backups create Category 3 (black water) contamination. We deploy in PPE, extract and dispose of contaminated water and porous materials, decontaminate hard surfaces, and dry to verified levels.

Full service detail

Ready to dispatch a crew?

Call now or book online. We confirm within minutes.

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