Sewage overflowed in my garden. Can I use enzymes on it?
An overflowing gully or sewer pipe in the yard is unpleasant and a health risk, so it's natural to want to clean it up quickly. The order matters: first stop the overflow by clearing the blockage, then clean up safely. Enzyme and bacterial products can help with smell and breaking down residue, but they don't disinfect and they won't fix the cause. Here's what to do.
Step 1: stop the overflow
- Stop using water in the house: no flushing, showers, washing or dishwasher.
- Keep children and pets away from the area.
- Call a plumber to clear the blockage. If sewage is coming out of a Sydney Water maintenance hole, report it to Sydney Water, as the main is blocked.
We clear the line with a high-pressure jetter and check it with a camera to find the cause, usually tree roots, wipes or fat, so it doesn't happen again. You get a fixed price before any work starts. See blocked drains.
Step 2: clean up safely
Protect yourself
Wear gloves, boots and old clothes. Wash hands well afterwards and keep cuts covered.
Remove solids
Pick up solid waste and toilet paper with a shovel and bag it for the bin.
Hard surfaces
Wash paths and paving with detergent, then disinfect. Make sure the wash water goes back to the gully, not the stormwater drain.
Lawns and soil
Let sunlight and time do their work. Keep people and pets off it for a while. Badly affected soil can be removed.
If the overflow reached a vegetable garden, it's safest to throw out produce that was touched by sewage.
Do enzyme treatments help?
Enzyme and bacterial products can help reduce smell and break down organic residue on soil and paving. They're fine to use as part of the clean-up. But they aren't a disinfectant, so use a proper disinfectant on hard surfaces, and they don't fix the blockage that caused the overflow.
In southern Eastern Suburbs homes
Overflow relief gullies in older homes in Matraville, Maroubra and Botany are designed to overflow outside rather than in the house. That's a good thing, but if it overflows, the sewer needs clearing, and often the roots in old clay pipes need a longer-term fix.
Why locals call us
- Local to Matraville and the southern Eastern Suburbs
- Free on-site quotes, with a fixed price before any work starts
- Lifetime labour warranty on our workmanship
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters (Lic. 398171C)
Common questions
What do I do if sewage overflows in my yard?
Stop using water, keep people and pets away, and call a plumber to clear the blockage. Then clean up wearing gloves and boots.
Can I use enzymes on a sewage overflow?
They can help with smell and residue, but they don't disinfect. Use a disinfectant on hard surfaces.
Is sewage on the lawn dangerous?
It can carry harmful bacteria. Keep people and pets off the area until it's cleaned up and has dried.
Why did sewage come out of the grate in my yard?
The sewer line is blocked, and the overflow gully is doing its job by releasing it outside instead of in the house.
Related help: blocked drains, drain jetting, toilet water rising, flushing wipes and manholes in the yard. Local pages: blocked drains Matraville, blocked drains Maroubra, blocked drains Botany and blocked drains Malabar.