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

Sewage Backup Causes

  • Drain Pipe Clogs – Sewage can back up into your home or business when either your drain pipes or the main sewer line gets clogged. For example, if one toilet creates a sewage blockage, the drain connected to that toilet, or the mainline of more toilets, will likely also be clogged.
  • Tree Roots – Trees with large roots can move into pipes and cause holes or crush the sewer line by growing around it. Even if the roots in your yard are not the issue, roots from nearby trees can reach your sewer line and damage it, creating a sewer backup. Always be watching for roots where your mainline to the street or septic system is located.
  • Defective Sewer Lines – Older sewage systems may break down and crack, causing sewage blockages and flooded homes and basements. The older your area’s houses are, the greater possibility of these types of problems.
  • Heavy Rainfall – Sudden large amounts of rain can put a strain on your area’s storm sewer mains. If the public systems can’t handle excess 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 like 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 water recedes and begins to dry out. Dried up organic materials can then become aerosolized and present the possibility of breathing it into your lungs. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to prevent contact and the danger of breathing in these contaminants.

Our Morristown, NJ process for sewage cleanup and sanitation

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

1. To ensure the safety of all occupants and workers by restricting jobsite access to restoration and cleaning personnel only to help prevent any health related occurrences.

2. Health & safety survey and complete building assessment.

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

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

4. Put into place established engineering controls, critical barriers, to alleviate cross-contamination.

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

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

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

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

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

9. Physical cleaning of all remaining structures

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

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

12. Post remediation cleanup of all equipment used

13. All demo materials removed from the building

Call PuroClean for your Professional Morristown, NJ Sewage Cleanup Needs!

If a sewage drain line backup takes place in your home or business, reach out to the PuroClean specialists for sewage removal and cleaning services. Our specialists use state-of-the-art tools, methods and cleaning systems to completely remediate the damaged structures and contents.

The high goals of our sewage removal and cleaning services along with the speed in which we complete the work, and the absolute care we demonstrate throughout the process make us your complete damage restoration and remediation company. PuroClean pledges to do whatever it takes to save, clean and restore all properties that lie within our service neighborhoods.

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

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