Toilet and sewer line backups could result in sewage entering your basement or other parts of your home or company. This dark, thick water is very hazardous and contains many dangerous contaminants. These contaminants consist of pathogens, bacteria and viruses and cause health risks and illness dangers if humans or animals experience exposure. Fixing these problems ASAP is imperative, as is removing sewage from your home or business. Having knowledge of what may cause sewer blockages may help you avoid a hazardous incident in your home or basement. Following is a list of things that may aid in stopping sewage backups that can occur in your home or business:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Heavy Rainfall – Excess rains can overwhelm your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the waste can back up into the attached sewer lines putting your home or business in possible compromise of water backflow. Swelling rivers and streams, hurricanes and other similar events can cause flood and sewage waters to blend and present serious health related problems. You should be extremely cautious when wading in this type of water, and even stay cautious after the water recedes and dries up. It’s possible for the organic matter to be aerosolized and respirable, meaning there’s a chance you could breathe it into your lungs. To protect from contact or risk of inhaling these contaminants, legitimate PPE should be worn at all times.
  • Tree Roots – 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 induced by tree roots that aren’t even on your land. Be keenly aware of any tree roots that can reach your water and sewer pipes that lead to the central sewer line or septic system.
  • Old/Aging Sewer Pipes – Older and aging sewage systems are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, causing sewer backups, flooded basements as well as entire home flooding. The older your neighborhood or dwelling may raise the threat of this type of damage occurring.
  • Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your house or business’s main sewer line or drain pipes become clogged, sewage may back up inside the dwelling. A good example is: if a single commode causes a sewage blockage, the lines connected to that toilet, or the main drain pipes of more toilets, will also become backed up.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Aging sewage systems have a tendency to fail and crack, leading to sewer water influx and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the probability is greater that you’ll experience impaired sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Copious Rainfall – Heavy and sudden rainfall can overwhelm your local storm sewer lines promptly. If these public sewers can’t deal with excess waters, water can backup and flow into connected sewer lines. This can put your dwelling at risk of backflow problems. Regional flood waters from events like rising rivers and creeks, hurricanes, or any other weather events can cause clean water to merge with sewage water and other chemicals and harmful toxins that cause serious health difficulties. Use extreme carefulness when moving on foot in this type of waste, but also remain cautious once it dries. The dried organic material can turn airborne and turn respirable. The right PPE needs to be worn at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling tainted air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Pipes – A fouled pipe or sewer line can cause sewage to back up into your home or business. If only one commode becomes fouled, the sewer water backup can spread down the sewer pipes and influence all connected toilets on that line.
  • Roots from Trees – Tree roots can wreak havoc on 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 grow under property lines and damage your sewer line, causing a sewage problem. Be extra aware of all tree roots near your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes connected to your septic tank.

Our Boerne, TX sewage cleanup and sanitation process

Our process for cleaning and remediation of Category 3 water, also known as sewer and contaminated water backup clean up following the IICRC industry standards, is as follows:

1. Ensure all workers and occupants stay safe by restricting access to the site to remediation employees only in order to stop any health-related issues.

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 can include but is not limited to:

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

4. Institute engineering controls, critical barriers if suitable to prevent cross-contamination.

5. Stopping all potential dangers and safety risks if possible.

6. Bulk water, soil, and contaminates removal

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:

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

8. Cleaning methods put in place and the use of EPA approved biocides and antimicrobials

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structures

10. A clearance test by a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is recommended to ensure the building is returned to a pre-affected condition for health and safety.

11. All items and structure affected by the water to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry standards

12. Post restoration cleaning of all equipment used

13. All materials from demolition process removed completely

Call PuroClean for Professional Sewage Cleanup in Boerne, TX!

Reach out to the PuroClean professionals for sewage removal, cleaning and restoration. Whether it’s from a blocked toilet, flood waters or sewage drain backups to tackle the problem for your dwelling. PuroClean uses the newest, state-of-the-art equipment and cleansing tools to completely and efficiently clean and remediate all affected objects and structures.

The sheer expertise of our sewer water removal and cleaning services, in addition to the speed that we deliver the work, as well as our kindness demonstrated throughout the entire project helps make PuroClean your perfect damage remediation and restoration firm. We strive to do everything possible and within our power to fully remediate properties in all the towns and cities that make up our service areas.

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

FAQ

What should I do in a social setting if someone closeby is coughing or sneezing?

If someone in close proximity to you is coughing or sneezing, be sure to maintain at least 6 feet (2 meters) distance between yourself and the person who is coughing [...]

Is blood a biohazard?

Blood itself is not a biohazard, it’s what may be in the blood that is potentially hazardous, such as bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) or infectious microorganisms, that can cause diseases. [...]

Will my insurance cover crime scene cleanup?

Insurance policies have many variables, while Crime Scene or Biohazard cleanup is often covered it is very important that you consult your insurance broker or agent to determine your specific [...]

What does BBP mean?

Bloodborne pathogens (BBPs), as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens [...]

Why can’t I clean up biohazard myself?

When a biohazard occurs, professionals are needed to clean and disinfect as improper treatment can spread contamination and lead to illness or life-threatening conditions. [...]