91-Year-Old Maine Woman Hit With $28K Sewer Backup Cleanup Bill

City officials say the elderly homeowner is responsible for the damage, despite no prior knowledge of the issue.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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A sewer backup in Saco, Maine caused significant damage to the home of 91-year-old Elsie Boudreau, forcing her to pay over $28,000 to clean up the raw sewage that flooded her basement. Despite the fact that the blockage was not caused by Boudreau, city officials have denied liability and insisted she cover the cleanup costs.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges elderly homeowners can face when dealing with unexpected and costly home repairs, especially when government officials refuse to take responsibility. It raises questions about the obligations of local authorities to maintain public infrastructure and assist vulnerable residents affected by system failures.

The details

A blocked sewer line on Franklin Street in Saco, Maine caused raw sewage to back up into Elsie Boudreau's basement, destroying her finished basement and forcing her to discard numerous personal belongings and family keepsakes. While Boudreau's homeowner's insurance covered part of the damage, she was still left with over $28,000 in cleanup costs that the city refused to reimburse, claiming they had "no prior knowledge of the hazard."

  • In late 2025, raw sewage backed up into Elsie Boudreau's basement in Saco, Maine.

The players

Elsie Boudreau

A 91-year-old homeowner in Saco, Maine whose home was significantly damaged by a sewer backup that the city refused to take responsibility for.

City of Saco

The local government officials in Saco, Maine who denied liability for the sewer backup that caused damage to Boudreau's home, leaving her to cover the $28,000 cleanup bill.

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What they’re saying

“It wasn't caused by me. The only thing it caused me was heartaches and sadness.”

— Elsie Boudreau (CBS News 13)

“Sounds like a personal problem - she's got hers, we've got ours.”

— City of Saco official (CBS News 13)

What’s next

Boudreau is exploring legal options to try to recoup the cleanup costs from the city, but faces an uphill battle given the city's stance that they had no prior knowledge of the sewer issue.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for better protections and support for elderly homeowners who face unexpected and costly home repairs, especially when the issues are caused by public infrastructure failures beyond their control.