What to do first
Stop adding water to the drainage system. If it is safe, note which drains backed up first and whether nearby properties are affected.
One slow fixture may be a local clog. Several affected fixtures or sewage at the lowest drain points more strongly to the building drain, sewer lateral, or public system.
What the first evaluation should establish
Restoring flow may be the immediate step. A lasting answer requires the blockage location, likely cause, and whether cleaning, inspection, repair, or public-system follow-up comes next.
Public-system help in Paterson
Paterson publishes a Sewer division under the city government and a separate Sewer Billing division for billing information.
Those public pages do not diagnose a private line or decide responsibility for a particular property. Locate the blockage or defect before private work begins.
Common questions
What should I do during an emergency sewer backup?
Stop using water, keep people and pets away from sewage, and note whether one fixture or several drains are affected. The blockage location determines whether private-line or public-system follow-up comes next.
Public source notes
These City of Paterson Sewer, Public Works, and Sewer Billing pages support this Paterson page. They do not decide responsibility for a specific property or replace a licensed inspection.
Sources last checked: 2026-07-29.
- Sewer | City of Paterson Public Works
The city's Public Works department lists a Sewer division.
- Public Works | City of Paterson
Paterson describes Public Works as responsible for city physical-property construction, management, maintenance, and operation. The page does not assign responsibility for a particular home's private lateral.
- Sewer Billing | City of Paterson Finance
The city maintains a separate Sewer Billing division. Billing administration is not evidence that the city is responsible for a private repair quote.
Page reviewed: 2026-08-08.