Fouled sewer lines can excrete sewage; a thick, dark liquid that forms. Sewage water is a serious health hazard and unsanitary; which contains contaminants like pathogens, viruses and bacteria. These dangerous contaminants may present risks of serious sickness if animals or humans are exposed to them. Quick repair is key if you have sewage backup anywhere in your home or business . Quickly repairing this will prevent the dangerous waste water from lingering in occupied areas. To prevent a hazardous condition happening in your home or business, being aware of what causes the sewer backups could be extremely helpful. We’ve put together a list of items to aid in preventing and dealing with home or business sewage blockages:

Causes of Sewage Backup

  • Blocked Sewer Line – Sewage backs up into your home or business when your drain lines or main sewer lines become clogged. To present an example: if one commode starts a sewage backup, the attached drain and/or many toilets and the main line may become clogged.
  • Imposing Tree Roots – Trees with large strong plentiful roots have the potential to grow through and around pipes, even crushing sewer lines. Tree roots can extend out to a long distance and wreak havoc on your pipes, leading to a sewer backup. Keep an eye out for roots near your main sewer lines or septic tank area to protect them from damage.
  • Aging & Damaged Sewer Lines – Aging sewer lines, pipes, drains and septic systems can fail by slowly weakening and crumbling over time – resulting in sewage backups, water filled homes, and basements full of sewer water. Pay attention to the age of your home and neighborhood and search for these potential problems.
  • Heavy Rainfall Amounts – Heavy amounts of rainfall can overcome your main storm and sewer mains. If it happens that your public sewers can’t handle large rainfall levels, the flooding can make its way into the sewer lines connected to the mainline, and put your home or business in a potentially dangerous exposure of sewer backup. There is a risk of serious health issues when in and around rising waters in your town or city that happens from flooding in rivers and streams, hurricanes, and other associated weather, when water merges with sewage, contaminants and chemicals. When wading in this waste use extreme caution, and also when the water goes down and starts drying. Organic substance that is dried out can then become aerosolized and present a danger of inhaling in these contaminants. Be positive to use proper PPE to protect against these dangerous risks.

PuroClean’s process for sewage cleanup and sanitation in Long Beach, CA

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. Ensure the safety of all personnel and occupants by regulating onsite access to restoration personnel only to prevent health-related dangers

2. Assessment of the work place along with health and safety surveys.

3. Be confident that all restoration employees are equipped with the proper personal protection equipment (PPE). This includes but is not limited to:

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

4. Establish engineering controls, critical barriers if required to prevent cross-contamination.

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

6. Bulk water, soil, and contaminates removal

7. Removal of all contaminated porous and semi-porous materials that are not restorable, which can include but are not limited to:

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

8. Cleaning procedures implemented, as well as the use of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structures

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

11. All materials affected by excess waters are to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry condition

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

13. All demo materials removed from the building

For Professional Sewage Cleanup in Long Beach, CA, Call PuroClean!

PuroClean technicians utilize state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning processes to effectively restore and clean the affected building materials and belongings from your dwelling or business. If a sewage drain pipe backup from blockage happens, call our highly trained staff for sewage removal and cleaning services.

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 process helps make PuroClean your ideal 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 offer sewage cleanup and sanitation cleaning services.

PuroClean team worked at my home after a pipe burst and were very knowledgeable and professional. They explained the plan and timeline and kept updating me every step of the way. They handled my home and the items within with great care and respect. They were flexible and accommodating with their schedules. I would recommend them highly. Edna
Edna Yohannes
January 29, 2026
I highly recommend PuroClean for restoration services. We received quick responses when needed, and all employees went above and beyond in all aspects of their services.
Michele Montgomery
August 1, 2025
PuroClean team worked at my home after a pipe burst and were very knowledgeable and professional. They explained the plan and timeline and kept updating me every step of the way. They handled my home and the items within with great care and respect. They were flexible and accommodating with their schedules. I would recommend them highly. Edna
Edna Yohannes
January 29, 2026

FAQ

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Biohazards are any biological contaminants such as those found in sewage, mold, or any viral or bacterial contamination such as MRSA. Biohazards also include toxins found in decaying organisms, as well as [...]

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What does BBP mean?

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