Most sewage spills happen when a pipe overflows through a maintenance hole or a broken pipe. It can endanger the environment, including waterways, homes, and buildings, and pose health risks.
When there is sewage backup and poor maintenance, septic systems fail. These are not adequately flushed or routinely pumped out, resulting in a septic tank blockage. The absorption field is then irreparably clogged by sewage flowing into it. Septic systems can overflow and fail when heavy rains saturate septic fields.
It would be best to thoroughly clean the sewage spills to protect your family from harmful organisms and viruses.
Tips on How to Clean After a Sewage Spill
Avoiding direct interaction with sewage is crucial because it contains pathogenic organisms and microbes that can enter your body and cause health problems.
Cleaning sewage spills requires the use of rubber gloves or other protective equipment. If you don’t have any protective gear, you can wear gardening gloves, a raincoat, or hiking boots for protection. To avoid health risks, dispose of all materials used during cleaning.
Cleaning sewage spills have two categories: indoor sewage spills and outdoor sewage spills.
Indoor Sewage Spills Clean Up:
- Remove all the furniture, mats, and other items from the area.
- Pets and children should not enter the area until cleanup is finished.
- Plaster, sheetrock, and carpet padding that have been swamped and feel soft should be removed and replaced.
- Treat the plaster lightly rather than soaking it when cleaning a wet surface.
- Raising air flow and opening windows and doors can help stop mold growth and lessen odors. The use of heaters and fans could hasten this process.
- It would be best to clean sinks and other pipework with sewage backup using detergent before being rinsed with a bleach solution.
- Wall-to-wall carpeting that has become saturated is typically impossible to clean properly. It must be taken out, covered in plastic, and disposed of at a dump site.
- Hardwood floors, moldings, metal furniture, and other hard surfaces should all be clean with hot water and a mild washing powder. It is followed by rinsing with a bleach solution by mixing one tablespoon of fluid fragrance-free bleach with one gallon of water. Then, air-dry the surface.
- Use the bleach solution to clean up mops, dustpans, and brushes.
- Once done, thoroughly rinse your hands and wash your clothes separately.
Outdoor Sewage Spills Clean Up:
- To stop further bacterial growth, isolate the contaminated area.
- Remove all toys, patio furniture, and other objects that can clean later.
- Water the area with a hose sprayer.
- It would help to liberally sprinkle garden lime until the area is completely covered in white dust.
- Sprinkle areas with lime on them for 24 hours to stand.
- Utilize a rake or spade to incorporate lime if the sewage is particularly thick in some areas.
- Use a garden hose to flush any remaining dried lime from the ground.
- Water it until it vanishes if you still see lime’s white dust.
- Spend a day letting the spot dry in the sun. Raking the affected area too soon might hinder the process of sunlight killing the bacteria.
- Scrub the driveways, decking, and other outdoor furniture or concrete floors using a stiff wire brush, hot water, bleach, and soap. For heat protection, wear gloves.
- On lawn, dirt, or other organic surfaces, never use chlorine. Contact a septic tank business or a company that cleans up landfill pollution to sanitize the area.
- Any contact with sewage should be washed in hot water or taken to a dry cleaner.
What impact can sewage have on my health?
There are several health hazards associated with sewage spill interactions. It includes;
- Intestinal and lung infections
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- liver disease
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Allergic symptoms
- Cholera
The report says if a sick person encounters sewage spills, that person is more likely to get aspergillus or have health problems. Hepatitis A and other viruses can damage the liver. Hepatitis A makes you feel tired, you feel stomach pain, and experience diarrhea, and others.
When to Hire Sewage Damage Cleanup Professionals?
If you notice that the sewage spills are so large that you cannot handle them alone, it is time to hire sewage damage and cleanup specialists.
Get assistance from a professional if:
- Several spaces are flooded with sewage.
- You are unskilled to do the job.
- The spill results from a septic tank or sewer backup.
- Over a day has passed since the sewage spills occurred.
- Infection risk is higher because of health issues you or your family members have.
For large amounts of water extraction, Sewage Damage Cleanup professionals will use a vacuum tanker. Moreover, they are experts at removing solid waste and debris blockages in your sewage system. So, you better talk to them to handle the sewage spills in your home.
Contact a licensed and experienced sewage cleanup team like Restoration Squad to clean up sewage spills to avoid health problems.
Talk to a Sewage Damage Cleanup Experts in San Jose, CA
No matter how small the damage, it will be contaminated by germs and pose a severe risk to human health, you, and those around you. Spills should be quickly contained and cleaned up to stop microbial growth. However, many people lack the tools required to do so efficiently. It is why it’s critical to contact professional Sewage Damage Cleanup as soon as possible.
Restoration Squad.com provides services for mold remediation and flood and water damage repair. We have shown a solid reputation throughout the area and cover the entire San Jose, California city. We can handle your water damage emergencies because we are qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable about the issue. If you let us take the sewage spills, we will complete the work quickly and effectively.
Are you experiencing water damage in your area or place of business? If this is the case, you should contact our qualified, licensed contractors in San Jose. Call (408) 412-3003 or visit our website!