But this isn't simply a story about a Salt Lake City man's frustration and anguish at losing personal possessions because of a broken city sewer line.

Estrada's experience provides a lesson - albeit a disgusting one - for city officials. And it may result in policy changes that could affect all city residents.

Currently, the city pays $3,000 in such "no fault" cases. But after some heavy lobbying by Estrada and his neighbors, city officials acknowledge the limit may not be enough for sewage floods, which present health hazards that require extensive remediation. Estrada said his damage totaled $22,258.14.

"I wanted to effect some sort of change," Estrada said Wednesday. "To help people in the future."

LeRoy Hooton Jr., director of public utilities, said that while sewage leaks are uncommon in the 700 miles of sewer lines buried throughout the city, they will undoubtedly happen again.

"I have a great deal of empathy for our customers who are inconvenienced with that kind of problem," Hooton said. "It's a problem associated with having a public sewer system. Sometimes it just happens, just like you have a car accident."

Sewer lines can back up during heavy storms, when they are broken because of construction, or when foreign objects are lodged in the pipes.

In this case, a root from a tree on city property sought out the main city sewer pipe on 900 South and backed up sewage in four homes on McClelland Street (1040 East), including Estrada's, on March 30. Because the problem occurred on city property, homeowner insurance won't cover the damage, which was extensive for Estrada.

He said he has to replace carpet, baseboards, soaked wallboard, furniture, tools and DVDs that were ruined in his finished basement.

"It's an unfortunate situation, and the magnitude of the damage [the Estrada home] suffered is such that it's causing us to think whether the $3,000 number is sufficient," City Attorney Ed Rutan said Wednesday.

The city may also rethink its cleanup policy.

Normally, Hooton's city crews do the dirty work. They cleaned up the homes on McClelland Street last week. But while Estrada praises the city for acting quickly, he said the pine-based cleaner wasn't enough.

The city agrees, and has paid a contractor to restore Estrada's basement and the other damaged homes.

Hooton is investigating whether the city should always contract out such jobs so that residents don't have to file a claim and then wait several days for professional cleaners.

"I sure don't like putting our customers through a great deal of stress and not only having the sewage back up on them but also deal with the [cleanup] process as well," he said.

City Councilwoman Jill Remington Love, whose district includes Estrada's neighborhood, may suggest another change: Require the city to clean out the sewer lines more frequently. City crews do that every three years and the pipe in question was checked 1 1/2 years ago.

"I'm going to call today to make sure our tree roots are cleaned out of our main line," Love said. "I don't think homeowners realize how serious the problem can be."

Estrada knows. The worst part is losing those irreplaceable items: The scrapbooks, the baby videos. "It's unbelievable how much effect it has on you."

hmay@sltrib.com