Subterra has run a 24/7 emergency sewer response since 2010. Two trucks are staffed at the SE Powell yard at all times — one always ready to dispatch, second on standby in case the first is on a call. This is not an on-call moonlighter rotation. Both trucks are paid emergency-response trucks with sewer-specific equipment on board.
What counts as a sewer emergency?
The textbook emergency is active raw sewage backup into a living space, basement, or finished area. The water is contaminated, the smell is unmistakable, and the homeowner is on the phone with us before they've finished cleaning the first towel.
- Active sewage in a basement or living space
- This is the textbook case. Call immediately. Do not use any water in the house.
- Total stoppage — all toilets, sinks, and drains backed up
- A blockage between the house and the city tap. Same response.
- Sewer-smell intrusion under the house
- Broken or disconnected line under the slab or crawlspace. Air-quality and structural concern. Same response.
- Outdoor sewage discharge — yard or sidewalk
- A failed lateral or city-tap connection venting raw sewage outdoors. Same response.
The on-call rotation
The first emergency truck is staffed by Lonnie Cruz — Subterra crew chief since 2007. The second alternates between Marina Sundström-Reyes and journeyman Eli Mendez on a 1-week rotation. The dispatcher (Sara Mendoza) handles the after-hours phone and triages: she gets your address, your phone, and a one-sentence description of what's happening, and dispatches the truck.
What we do on arrival
The emergency truck is sewer-specific. It is not a generalist plumbing truck repurposed for after-hours work. Specifically:
- Open the exterior cleanout, relieve pressure on the line
- Run the camera to identify the obstruction or break point
- Cable or hydro-jet the obstruction to restore flow
- Camera-verify clean flow
- Written scope of any underlying pipe condition + recommendation for follow-up work
We diagnose, clear, AND scope your problem in one visit. A generalist plumber's after-hours truck typically does step 1–3 (clear flow) and tells you to call back during business hours for the camera. We do it all in the same call.
What to do before we arrive
If sewage is actively flooding:
- Shut off the water at the main if you can locate the shutoff
- Do NOT flush any toilet
- Do NOT use any sink, shower, dishwasher, or laundry — every gallon used goes into the same blocked line
- Contain the affected area with towels — but do NOT stand in standing sewage (health hazard)
- Photograph the affected area for insurance
- If sewage is in living space, evacuate pets and small children
What it costs
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| After-hours emergency dispatch | $385 base |
| Cable clear-out (single obstruction) | +$325–$425 |
| Hydro-jet (chronic / heavy) | +$485–$1,180 |
| Camera inspection | Included with emergency response |
| Dispatch waived if repair invoice exceeds | $1,200 |