When sewer pipes become obstructed, the thick, black water that presents as sewage is a health danger, and is tremendously unsanitary as it consists of contaminants like pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that may pose a risk of severe illness if exposed to humans or animals. If you have a sewage backup in your basement, or your toilet has backed up, you will need to repair it quickly, or you will end up with sewage all over your floors. Knowing the cause of sewer backups, however, may help you prevent a hazardous situation in your basement, home or business. Here’s a list of items that may help to prevent and deal with sewage backups:

Why Sewage Backup Occurs

  • Heavy Rainfall – Excess flooding can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer system. If this happens, the water can expand into the attached sewer lines bringing your home or business in possible danger of water backflow. Swelling rivers and streams, hurricanes and other relevant events can force flood and sewage waters to mix and present serious health related problems. You should be highly cautious when walking in this type of water, and even stay vigilant after the water recedes and dries up. It’s probable for the organic matter to become aerosolized and able to be inhaled, meaning there’s a chance you could breathe 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 strong roots that grow into water or sewer pipes and crush or damage 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 reach your water and sewer pipes that lead to the main sewer line or septic system.
  • Old/Aging Sewer Pipes – Older and aging sewage structures are susceptible to breaking down and cracking, inducing sewer backups, sewer filled basements along with entire home flooding. The older your neighborhood or home may raise the chance of this type of damage occurring.
  • Clogged and Blocked Drain Pipes – If your house or business’s main sewer pipes or drain pipes become blocked, sewage may back up inside the building. A good example is: if a single commode causes a sewage backup, the drains connected to that toilet, or the main drain pipes of more toilets, will also become backed up.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Older sewage systems have a propensity to fail and crack, leading to sewer water influx and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the likelihood is greater that you’ll experience impaired sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Copious Rainfall – Heavy and rapid rainfall can defeat your local storm sewer lines promptly. If these public sewer pipes can’t deal with excess downpours, water can backup and flow into connected sewer lines. This can put your home or business at risk of backflow difficulties. Local 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 harmful toxins that cause serious health ailments. Use extreme caution when wading in this type of water, but also remain cautious when it dries. The dried organic waste can turn airborne and turn respirable. Proper 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 force sewage to back up into your home or business. If only one commode becomes fouled, the sewer water backup can spread on to the sewer pipes and affect all attached toilets on that line.
  • Roots from Trees – Tree roots can be harmful to water and sewer pipes. The roots from huge trees can grow into and around the pipes and damage them excessively. If the roots around your property are not the culprit, roots from nearby trees can cross property lines and damage your sewer pipes, causing a sewage problem. Be extra aware of all tree roots close to your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes leading to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s process for sewage cleanup and sanitation in Marysville, WA

Our procedures for Category 3 water (also known as sewer and contaminated water backup) cleaning, following the IICRC industry guidelines, consists of:

1. Ensure the safety of all personnel and non-personnel by tempering onsite access to restoration personnel only to prevent health-related issues

2. Health & safety survey and complete building assessment.

3. Ensure all restoration personnel are outfitted with the proper personal protection equipment (PPE). This can include 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. Put engineering controls in place, as well as critical barriers if needed to stop any cross-contamination from occurring.

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

6. Disposal, removal of bulk flooding, soil, and contaminates.

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

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

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

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structure areas

10. We recommend 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 the water to be dried and returned to pre-loss dry standards

12. Post remediation cleansing of all equipment used

13. Transfer and disposal of all demo materials removed from the premises

Call PuroClean for Professional Sewage Cleanup in Marysville, WA!

Call the PuroClean professionals for sewage removal, cleaning and remediation. Whether it’s from a stopped up toilet, flood waters or sewer pipe backups to tackle the problem for your home or business. PuroClean uses the newest, state-of-the-art equipment and cleansing tools to completely and effectively clean and remediate all affected items and structures.

We have proved time after time that our methods and our technicians are top quality, efficient, and work with care and compassion for all involved. PuroClean is your ideal damage restoration and cleaning firm 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.

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