Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation in Columbia, SC

When a sewer line is obstructed, the sewage that is thick and dark can be dangerous to your health. This sewer waste is extremely unsanitary, containing contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and pathogens. All of these contaminants can pose a serious health danger and cause many illnesses if humans or animals are exposed. If it happens that you experience sewage backup on the property of your home or business, or a toilet backup in either location, fixing either one is of the highest importance. Having this filthy sewer waste in your home is not safe and should be removed immediately. Also, knowing what is causing the sewer backups may aid in preventing this potentially hazardous situation. To help you in managing sewage backups in your home or business, following is a list of things that may help:

Why Sewage Backup Occurs

• Considerable Rainfall – Excess flooding can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer mainlines. If this happens, the waste can back up into the attached sewer lines placing your home or business in possible danger of water backflow. Rising rivers and streams, hurricanes and other related events can cause flood and sewage waters to mix and present serious health related problems. You should be extremely cautious when walking in this sort of water, and even stay vigilant after the water recedes and dries up. It’s possible for the organic matter to be aerosolized and able to be inhaled, meaning there’s a chance you could inhale it into your lungs. To stop contact or risk of inhaling these contaminants, proper PPE should be used at all times.
• Roots from Trees – Trees can have long roots that grow into water or sewer lines and crush or impair them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be induced by tree roots that aren’t even on your property. Be very aware of any tree roots that can sprawl into your water and sewer lines that lead to the main sewer line or septic system.
• Old/Aging Sewer Pipes – Older and aging sewage systems are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, causing sewer backups, sewer filled basements as well as entire home flooding. The older your region or dwelling may raise the threat of this type of damage occurring.
• Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your home or business’s main sewer pipes or drain pipes become blocked, sewage may back up inside the dwelling. A perfect example is: if a single commode causes a sewage backup, the adjacent pipes connected to that toilet, or the main drain lines of more toilets, will also become backed up.

• Old and/or Damaged Lines – Aging sewage systems have a propensity to suffer damage and crack, leading to sewer water influx and flooded homes or businesses full of sewage. If your home or region is older, the probability is greater that you’ll experience damaged sewer lines than newer ones.
• Heavy Rain – Heavy and sudden rainfall can defeat your local storm sewer lines quickly. If these public sewers can’t deal with excess rainfall, water can backup and flow into connected sewer lines. This can put your home or business at risk of backflow problems. Regional flood waters from events like rising rivers and creeks, hurricanes, or any similar weather events can cause clean water to blend with sewage water and other chemicals and contaminants that cause serious health problems. Use extreme caution when wading in this type of waste, but also stay cautious once it dries. The dried organic material can turn airborne and turn respirable. Correct PPE needs to be worn at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling polluted air.
• Blocked/Clogged Pipes – A fouled pipe or sewer line can cause sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one commode becomes blocked, the sewer water backup can spread down the sewer lines and affect all connected toilets on that line.
• Roots from Trees – Tree roots can cause damage to water and sewer lines. The roots from big trees can grow into and around the lines and damage them excessively. If the roots under your property are not the problem, roots from closely located trees can extend under property lines and damage your sewer pipes, causing a sewage complication. Be extra aware of all tree roots close to your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes leading to your septic tank.

Our Columbia, SC process for sewage cleanup and sanitation

Our cleaning and remediation procedures for Category 3 water (which describes sewer and contaminated water backup) according to the standards put in place by the IICRC industry are:

1. Ensuring safety for all employees and occupants by placing strict rules on site access to remediation personnel only in order to prevent health related occurrences.

2. Assessment of the jobsite along with health and safety reviews.

3. Ensure all remediation employees are supplied with and use the required personal protection equipment (PPE). This includes, but isn’t limited to the following:

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

4. Implement established engineering controls, critical barriers, to prevent cross-contamination.

5. Completely getting rid of any potential safety risks if possible.

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

7. Eradication and disposal of all contaminated porous and semi-porous material that is not restorable – which can include but is not limited to:

• Gypsum board (drywall)
• Carpeting, rugs, pad, and/or underlayment
• Vinyl flooring and underlayment
• Hardwood flooring
• Padded and upholstered items

8. Cleaning processes put in place and the use of EPA certified biocides and antimicrobials

9. Actual cleansing of all remaining structures

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

11. All materials touched by water to be dried and returned to pre-loss standard

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

13. All materials from demolition work removed completely

For the Perfect Professional Columbia, SC Sewage Cleanup Company, Call PuroClean Today!

Call the PuroClean specialists for sewage abatement, cleaning and remediation. Whether it’s from a blocked toilet, flood waters or sewer pipe backups to tackle the problem for your home or business. PuroClean uses the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and cleansing tools to completely and efficiently clean and restore all affected items and structures.

We have proved time after time that our methods and our specialists are top quality, efficient, and work with care and compassion for all involved. PuroClean is your ideal damage restoration and cleaning professionals and we pledge to do whatever needs to take place to rescue and restore all homes and businesses in the communities we serve.

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