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Sewer Emergencies

WMSD Main Office: 970-249-1686 (M-F 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Sewer Emergencies After Hours, please call 970-257-3035.

If you have a problem with your sewer, and you are within West Montrose Sanitation District’s service area, CALL US FIRST at 970-249-1686. We will inspect our sewer main lines at no charge to you. If it is then determined that the problem is not in the main sewer line, you may wish to call a plumber to check your private sewer lateral (the pipe from your building or home to the main) for a blockage.

If you call a plumber before calling WMSD to check our main sewer line, you will be responsible for all charges incurred by the plumber.

What causes sewer blockages?

Some of the most common causes of sewer blockages are: grease, debris or foreign objects in your sewer lateral or our sewer main lines, partial or complete blockage caused by tree root intrusion into sewer lines, and sewer line collapse caused by old or deteriorated pipes or debris entering the sewer system from illegal connections.

  • WMSD Main Office: 970-249-1686 (M-F 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
  • Sewer Emergencies After Hours, please call 970-257-3035.

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to call the Main Office.

Here are a few tips that will help protect against blockages

Sewer main line inspections are part of our free emergency response. Helping reduce blockages can reduce the cost to fix the problem, and reduce overall sewer expenditures.

  • Roots: Don’t plant trees or large shrubs near sewer lines. Roots grow toward breaks and cracks in the pipes in search of a source of water. If roots get inside the pipe, they form blockages.
  • Grease: Dispose of grease and fats in the garbage/trash – don’t put them down the drain! Grease collects and hardens inside the pipes and forms a solid plug that can lead to sewer problems.
  • Deteriorated pipes: Some homes may have damaged or deteriorated pipes. Before considering upgrades or replacement, you may want to contact a plumber to discuss which options are appropriate for your situation.
  • Illegal plumbing connections: Don’t connect floor drains, roof gutters, sump pumps, and other drainage systems to the sanitary sewer. It’s illegal and debris and silt will clog your line. Consult a plumber to disconnect illegal connections immediately.