Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation in Memphis, TN

When sewer lines become obstructed, the thick, black water that presents as sewage is a health hazard, and is extremely unsanitary as it contains contaminants such as pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that may pose a risk of severe illness if exposed to humans or animals. If you have a sewer backed up in your basement, or your toilet backs up, you will need to repair it quickly, or you will end up with dirty water all over your home or business. Knowing what causes sewer backups, however, may help you prevent a hazardous occurrence in your basement, home or business. Following is a list of items that may help to prevent and deal with sewage backups:

Sewage Backup Causes

• Drain Pipe Clogs – Sewage can back up into your home or business when either your drain lines or the main sewer line gets clogged. For example, if one commode creates a sewage backup, the drain leading to that toilet, or the mainline of many toilets, will likely also be obstructed.
• Tree Roots – Trees with large roots can move into pipes and cause holes or crush the sewer line by encircling it. Even if the roots on your property are not the issue, roots from adjoining property can reach your sewer pipe and damage it, forcing a sewer backup. Always be watching for roots where your mainline to the street or septic system is located.
• Aging Sewer Lines – Aging sewage systems may break down and crack, causing sewage backups and flooded homes and basements. The older your area’s houses are, the greater possibility of these types of issues.
• Extreme Weather – Heavy amounts of rain can put a strain on your city’s storm sewer mains. If the public systems can’t handle large amounts of rainfall, the water can make its way into connected sewer lines, which can leave your home or business at risk of water backflows. Area-wide flooding waters from events such as rising rivers and creeks, hurricanes, and other isolated events can also combine with sewage water and other chemicals and harmful bacteria that can lead to health-related issues. Extreme care and safety is needed when trying to walk in these waters, and even when the sewer water recedes and begins to dry out. Dried out organic materials can then become aerosolized and become respirable. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to avoid contact and the danger of breathing in these contaminants.

PuroClean’s sewage cleanup and sanitation process in Memphis, TN

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 all employees and occupants remain safe by restricting access to the site to restoration employees only in order to thwart any health-related problems.

2. Assessment of the building along with health and safety surveys.

3. Ensure proper personal protection equipment (PPE) is being utilized by all restoration personnel. This may include but is not limited to:

• 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 stop cross-contamination.

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

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

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

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

8. Implement cleaning methods and use of EPA registered biocides and antimicrobials

9. Manual cleaning of all remaining structure items

10. A clearance inspection by a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is recommended to ensure the building is returned to a 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. All equipment used on the project to be cleaned after restoration completion

13. All demo materials removed from the building

For Professional Sewage Cleanup in Memphis, TN, Call PuroClean!

What happens if a sewer main backup occurs in your home or business? The perfect answer is: Call PuroClean! Simply because PuroClean technicians are your perfect professionals for sewage removal and cleaning services. With the latest and greatest equipment and cleaning tools, we efficiently restore, repair and completely cleanse the affected parts in your home or business.

We have proved time after time that our work and our specialists are top quality, efficient, and work with care and kindness for all involved. PuroClean is your ideal damage restoration and cleaning company and we pledge to do whatever needs to happen to save and restore all properties in the communities we serve.

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