Read the pattern
Stop water use and note the first opening, affected floors, rainfall timing, fixture sequence, cleanout behavior, neighboring conditions, prior events, and whether the material is sewage or surface water.
Decision terrace 27
Move from evidence to a bounded authorization
Hold the safety line
Keep people away from wastewater, wet electricity, contaminated belongings, pressurized caps, and unstable floors. Do not enter a confined space or repeatedly test a line that is already returning flow.
Place the Seattle boundary
SPU asks customers to report a sewage backup so the utility can check the public system. That check does not promise reimbursement or replace private investigation, cleanup, or owner-side repair.
Write the visit
Separate containment, public notification, clearing, camera, access, sanitation, drying, contents, side-sewer repair, permit, inspection, and restoration. Assign each handoff to a named party.
Keep the closing evidence
Retain the SPU case reference, private finding, restored-flow test, footage if captured, cleanup record, damaged-material notes, and any monitor or repair recommendation with its evidence.
Current public source