When sewer pipes become obstructed, the thick, black water that presents as sewage is a health risk, and is tremendously unsanitary as it contains contaminants like pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that can present a risk of extreme sickness illness if exposed to humans or pets. If you have a sewer backed up in your basement, or your toilet backs up, you will need to repair it quickly, or you will end up with dirty water all over your floors. Knowing the cause of sewer backups, however, may help you avoid a hazardous situation in your basement, home or business. Following is a list of items that may help to prevent and handle sewage backups:

Why Sewage Backup Occurs

  • Clogged Drain Pipes – Sewage backs up into your home or business when your drain pipes or main sewer pipes become blocked. As an example: if one toilet starts a sewage backup, the attached drain and/or multiple toilets and the main sewer may become fouled.
  • Imposing Tree Roots – Trees with large strong imposing roots have the potential to grow through and around pipes, even crushing sewer pipes. Tree roots are able to reach a long distance and damage your pipes, leading to a sewer backup. Keep an eye out for roots near your sewer mainline or septic tank area to guard from damage.
  • Aging & Damaged Sewer Lines – Aging sewer lines, pipes, drains and septic systems can fail by slowly cracking and failing over time – resulting in sewage backups, flooded homes, and basements full of sewer water. Pay attention to the age of your home and surrounding area and look out for these potential problems.
  • Large Rainfall Amounts – Heavy amounts of rainfall can crowd your main storm and sewer mains. If it turns out that your public sewers can’t handle large rainfall amounts, the water can work its way into the sewer lines connected to the mainline, and set your home or business in a potentially dangerous exposure of sewer backup. There is a risk of genuine health issues when in and around rising waters in your town or city that happens from flooding in rivers and streams, hurricanes, and other related weather, when water blends with sewage, impurities and chemicals. When wading in these waters use extreme caution, and also when the water diminishes and starts drying. Organic matter that is dried out can then convert to be aerosolized and present a danger of inhaling in these contaminants. Be sure to use proper PPE to guard against these dangerous risks.

Our Ashland, WI sewage cleanup and sanitation process

Our procedures for Category 3 water (also known as sewer and contaminated water backup) cleanup, adhering to the IICRC industry standards, consists of:

1. Ensure all employees and occupants remain safe by limiting access to the site to remediation employees only in order to prevent any health-related problems.

2. Health and Safety checks and assessment of the workplace.

3. Ensure all cleanup and restoration personnel are equipped with the proper personal protection equipment (PPE). This includes but is not limited to:

  • Nitrile and cut resistant gloves
  • Rubber boots with steel toes and shank
  • Full face respirator
  • Full body suit protection

4. Put engineering controls in place, as well as critical barriers if needed to stop any cross-contamination from occurring.

5. Eliminating any and all lingering safety risks if possible.

6. Removal of bulk water, soil, and contaminates.

7. Remove and dispose of all contaminated porous and semi-porous materials that are not able to be restored, which could include but is not limited to:

  • Carpet, rugs, pad, or underlayment
  • Gypsum board (Drywall)
  • Hardwood flooring
  • Vinyl flooring and underlayment
  • Padded and upholstered items

8. Implement cleaning procedures and utilization of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Actual cleaning of all remaining structures

10. It is recommended to hire a third party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) for a safety clearance inspection to ensure the jobsite is returned to pre-loss condition for health and safety.

11. All materials damaged by water to be dried and returned to pre-loss state

12. All equipment used on the project to be cleaned after restoration completion

13. All demo materials removed from the building

Call PuroClean for Professional Sewage Cleanup in Ashland, WI!

PuroClean technicians utilize state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning processes to effectively restore and clean the unsound building materials and contents from your dwelling or business. If a sewage drain line backup from blockage occurs, call our technicians for sewage removal and cleaning services.

The professional nature of PuroClean’s sewage removal and cleaning solutions, the expeditious way in which we deliver them, and the kindness we demonstrate throughout the whole process make PuroClean your perfect damage restoration and remediation company. We will strive to do whatever it takes to restore and rescue properties in all the areas we serve.

*Not all PuroClean offices provide sewage cleanup and sanitation cleaning services.

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