When a sewer line is blocked, the sewage that is thick and dark can be dangerous to your health. This sewer water is extremely unclean, containing contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and pathogens. All of these contaminants can pose a serious health risk and lead to many illnesses if humans or animals suffer exposure. If it happens that you experience sewage backup on the property of your home or business, or a toilet backup in either location, repairing either one is of the highest importance. Having this dirty sewer water in your home is dangerous and should be removed as soon as possible. Also, knowing what is causing the sewer obstruction may aid in preventing this potentially hazardous incident. To help you in managing sewage backups in your home or business, following is a list of things that may help:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Considerable Rainfall – Excess rains can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the water can swell into the attached sewer lines bringing your home or business in possible danger of water backflow. Swelling rivers and streams, hurricanes and other related events can force flood and sewage waters to blend and present genuine health related problems. You should be immensely cautious when wading in this type of water, and even stay cautious after the water recedes and dries up. It’s probable for the organic matter to turn aerosolized and able to be inhaled, meaning there’s a chance you could breathe it into your lungs. To protect from contact or risk of breathing in these contaminants, legitimate PPE should be worn at all times.
  • Roots from Trees – Trees can have strong roots that grow into water or sewer pipes and crush or break them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be caused by tree roots that aren’t even on your premises. Be keenly aware of any tree roots that can reach your water and sewer pipes that lead to the main sewer line or septic system.
  • Old/Aging Sewer Lines – Older and aging sewage structures are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, causing sewer backups, sewer filled basements along with entire home flooding. The older your neighborhood or home may raise the chance of this type of catastrophe occurring.
  • Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your home or business’s main sewer line or drain pipes become fouled, sewage may back up inside the building. A perfect example is: if a single commode causes a sewage blockage, the adjacent pipes connected to that toilet, or the main drain pipes of more toilets, will also suffer backflow flooding.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Aging sewage systems have a tendency to fail and crack, leading to sewage backups and flooded homes or businesses full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the chance is greater that you’ll experience failing sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Heavy Rain – Heavy and rapid rainfall can overwhelm your local storm sewer lines rapidly. If these public sewer pipes can’t deal with excess downpours, water can backup and progress into connected sewer lines. This can put your home or business at risk of backflow problems. Area flood waters from events like surging rivers and creeks, hurricanes, or any other weather events can cause clean water to blend with sewage water and other chemicals and harmful toxins that cause serious health difficulties. Use extreme caution when wading in this type of water, but also remain cautious once it dries. The dried organic waste can turn airborne and turn respirable. Proper PPE needs to be utilized at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling contaminated air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Sewer Lines – A clogged pipe or sewer line can force sewage to back up into your home or business. If only one commode becomes backed up, the sewer water backup can spread down the sewer pipes and affect all attached toilets on that line.
  • Tree Roots – Tree roots can cause damage to water and sewer pipes. The roots from large trees can grow into and around the pipes and damage them tremendously. If the roots under your property are not the problem, roots from closely located trees can cross property lines and ruin your sewer line, causing a sewage issue. Be extra aware of all tree roots close to your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes leading to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s sewage cleanup and sanitation process in Bakersfield, CA

The PuroClean procedures for cleaning and restoring Category 3 water, which is sewer and contaminated water backup cleaning and restoration identified by IICRC industry regulations, consisting of:

1. Ensure the safety of all personnel and non-personnel by restricting onsite access to remediation personnel only to prevent health-related concerns

2. Assessment of the area and Health and Safety checks.

3. Ensure all remediation personnel are outfitted with the proper personal protection equipment (PPE). This includes but is not limited to:

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

4. Engineering controls put in place and condemnatory barriers used (if needed) preventing cross-contamination.

5. Eradicating any type of probable safety risks if at all possible.

6. Eradication of bulk water, dirt, and contaminates.

7. Removing any and all porous and semi-porous contaminated items that are unable to be salvaged, which includes 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 processes and use of EPA certified biocides and antimicrobials

9. Actual cleaning of all remaining structures

10. We suggest using a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) to implement clearance testing to ensure the property is returned to a sanitary pre-loss condition for health and safety.

11. All materials affected by the water to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry conditions

12. After completion of remediation – Cleaning of all equipment used

13. Removal and disposal of all demo materials removed from the site

For the Perfect Professional Bakersfield, CA Sewage Cleanup Company, Call PuroClean Today!

If a sewage drain pipe backup takes place in your home or business, reach out to the PuroClean specialists for sewage removal and cleaning services. Our specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems to effectively remediate the damaged structures and contents.

The high standard of our sewage abatement and cleaning services along with the rapidity in which we complete the work, and the absolute care we demonstrate throughout the process make us your complete water damage restoration and remediation company. PuroClean promises to do whatever it takes to save, clean and restore all properties that lie within our service areas.

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

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