An Arlington family has been displaced after a massive sewage backup sent thousands of gallons of raw sewage into their home while they were away on vacation.
Ricky Ibarra said his family was vacationing in Aruba when his brother, who had been checking on the family’s pets, called him last Thursday with the news.
“He found the house completely flooded with thousands of gallons of raw sewage in some parts of the house; it got up to two feet high,” Ibarra said.
Ibarra said the damage has forced him, his wife and their two young children out of their home.
“It’s honestly the worst thing that could happen. This is our home. We have two little kids. We have a two-year-old and a one-year-old, and we’ve been completely displaced,” Ibarra said.
While it is clear that a sewer backup flooded the Augusta Lane home, Ibarra is trying to determine why his house was affected and who is responsible for the damage.
“The city has denied any responsibility for it, even though the city workers that came out that day to make the sewage stop coming up from the toilets said it was on the city line,” Ibarra said.
Arlington Water Utilities confirmed a nearby city sewer line became clogged with non-flushable items, including wipes, kitchen grease and latex gloves. The city said the materials came from various households in the area and accumulated over time in the city sewer line.
Crews cleared the blockage after the backup.
“Unfortunately, the city cannot always control what is introduced into the sewer system and clogs that affect private residences can be the result of these non-flushables,” the department said in a statement to NBC 5.
Ibarra blames city infrastructure. He said that when he purchased the home, the previous owner disclosed a sewer backup that occurred in 2015, as required by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
“He said sewage water started coming up from the toilets and caused a lot of damage for him as well. And at the time, for him, also, the city didn’t want to accept any liability, any responsibility,” Ibarra said.
Ibarra said he is not sure whether his homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of gutting the house or replacing the family’s damaged belongings.
The Insurance Council of Texas, an insurance trade group, said coverage generally depends on the specific policy. Some standard home insurance policies may cover sewage backups, while others could require separate coverage.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.