Sewer Backup Cleanup in Herriman, Utah

A New City With New Sewer Lines

Herriman has grown faster than almost anywhere in the valley: 1,523 residents in 2000, 21,785 in 2010, 55,144 in the 2020 Census, and 63,282 in the 2025 estimate. Census data compiled from the ACS shows about half of all homes were built in the 2010s, with a median build year of 2013, and only about 9% predate 2000.

New pipe resists the root problems that plague older cities, but it brings its own: laterals that sag where trench backfill settled, construction debris left in lines during building, and connections made at a poor slope. Herriman households also average about 3.38 people, the largest in the south valley, so daily water use is high. A partial blockage that might go unnoticed in a two-person home shows up quickly in a family of five.

Many Herriman basements are finished living space or rented apartments. Sewage that reaches carpet there means removal, and a second household to document.

Herriman's Sewer District and What It Recommends

Sewer service comes from the Jordan Basin Improvement District, formerly South Valley Sewer District, and Herriman holds a seat on its board. The district cleans accessible mains about every 18 months and TV-inspects them about every five years, names tree roots in laterals as a backup cause, and recommends inspecting the lateral when a home is sold. With so many Herriman homes changing hands, that last point is worth acting on: a sewer scope before closing costs a few hundred dollars.

The district also offers a simple fix for sewer odors: pour about a gallon of water into floor drains, shower drains, and sinks that rarely get used. Dry traps let sewer gas into the house, and in a basement guest room or rental that is often the source of a smell people mistake for a backup. Persistent odor after that is a reason to call; see our sewer odor removal page.

Basement Apartments: Two Households, Two Policies

Herriman has many finished basements rented as apartments. When sewage comes up in one, the owner and the tenant usually have separate claims: the owner's homeowners policy, with a water backup endorsement, for the structure, and the tenant's renters policy for belongings. Many standard policies on both sides exclude sewer backup unless an endorsement was added.

Herriman has a recent example of how hard basement claims can get. In August 2021, FOX 13 reported that floodwater broke through an unfinished emergency berm in Heritage Place Estates and flooded a basement apartment; the homeowner's and renter's insurance did not cover it, and the city's insurer denied the claim, citing Utah flood-management immunity. That was surface flooding, not a sewer backup, which is exactly why the source has to be documented correctly from the start.

Flood, Burn Scars, and Sewage Cleanup in Herriman

Herriman borders the Oquirrh foothills, and a September 2010 wildfire linked to Camp Williams burned about 3,500 acres near town. The Utah Insurance Department notes that burn scars from wildfires significantly increase local flooding risk. Utah Geological Survey hazard maps published in 2014 also cover parts of Herriman for shallow groundwater, collapsible soils, and flood hazards.

For cleanup, the distinction is practical. Sewage from a drain is Category 3 under IICRC S500: carpet, pad, wet drywall, and insulation are removed, and surfaces are disinfected with EPA-registered antimicrobials before drying. Surface floodwater may be classified differently and falls under flood insurance. We confirm the source before deciding the scope.

Buying or Selling in Herriman: A Sewer Scope Checklist

A sewer scope before closing is the cheapest protection a Herriman buyer has. Most camera inspections cost about $100–$500, and standard cameras reach roughly 330–350 feet, enough for nearly any residential lateral. Ask the inspector to record video from the cleanout to the main and to call out four things: bellies or low spots that hold water, offset or separated joints, debris left from construction, and any root intrusion at fittings.

Ask for the video file, not just a summary, and keep it with your closing documents. If the report shows a sag or debris, that becomes part of the negotiation, and it gives you a baseline if a backup happens later. Sellers can do the same before listing and avoid surprises during inspection.

The First Hour With Sewage on a Herriman Basement Floor

Herriman's homes connect to a gravity sanitary sewer: wastewater runs through PVC laterals to district mains, through manholes, and on to a treatment plant, separate from the storm drains that carry runoff off the hillsides. Even new pipe backs up when wipes, grease, or construction debris block it, or when a main surcharges and pressure pushes sewage into the lowest drain.

If it happens, stop every fixture in the house, including the dishwasher and washing machine; in a large household, someone upstairs flushing is enough to keep sewage rising downstairs. Keep children out, since sewage carries E. coli and other pathogens. Do not use a shop vac, mop, or bleach; household gear spreads contamination and bleach with ammonia cleaners makes toxic gas. Note the time, take photos, and find your outdoor cleanout so a plumber can relieve the line.

After cleanup, a backwater valve on the basement line is worth considering in any home with a finished lower level. Our sewer backup cleanup crew from Provo reaches Herriman in 1–3 hours.

Sewer Backup Cleanup Herriman Response

Herriman is about 35 miles north of our Provo base, and our crew arrives in 1–3 hours, 24/7, anywhere in 84096, from Rose Creek Estates and the older town center to Rosecrest and the newer annexed neighborhoods. Cleanup typically runs $7–$15 per square foot, and we write an itemized estimate before any tear-out. For timing, see how long cleanup takes.

From Herriman we also reach Riverton and South Jordan, which share the same sewer district.

Herriman Sewer Backup Cleanup: Common Questions