When sewer lines become blocked, the thick, black water that forms as sewage is a health risk, and is extremely unsanitary as it contains contaminants such as pathogens, bacteria, and viruses that can present a risk of extreme sickness illness if exposed to humans or pets. 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 dirty water all over your home or business. Knowing what causes 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

  • Drain Pipe Blockages – 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 toilet creates a sewage blockage, the drain tied to that toilet, or the mainline of more toilets, will likely also be clogged.
  • Tree Roots – Trees with large roots can grow into pipes and cause holes or crush the sewer line by encircling it. Even if the roots in your yard are not the issue, roots from adjoining property can reach your sewer pipe and damage it, causing a sewer backup. Always be aware of roots where your mainline to the street or septic system is located.
  • Aging Sewer Lines – Aging sewage systems may break down and crack, creating sewage backups and flooded homes and basements. The older your area’s houses are, the greater chance of these types of incidents.
  • Extreme Weather – Sudden large amounts of rain can put a strain on your city’s storm sewer lines. If the public systems can’t handle excess rainfall, the water can make its way into connected sewer lines, which will put your home or business at risk of water backflows. City-wide flooding waters from events such as rising rivers and streams, hurricanes, and other micro events can also mix with sewage waste and other chemicals and contaminants that can cause health-related issues. Extreme caution is needed when trying to walk in these waters, and even when the water recedes and begins to dry out. Dried out organic matter can then become aerosolized and become respirable. Proper PPE should be worn to prevent contact and risk of breathing in this harmful matter.

PuroClean’s process for sewage cleanup and sanitation in Salt Lake City, UT

Our process for cleaning and remediation of Category 3 water, aka sewer and contaminated water backup clean up following the IICRC industry standards, is as follows:

1. To ensure the safety of all occupants and workers by limiting jobsite access to restoration and cleanup personnel only to help prevent any health related problems.

2. Assessment of the area and Health and Safety checks.

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

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

4. Create engineering controls, critical barriers if suitable to prevent cross-contamination.

5. Eliminating any and all potential safety risks if possible.

6. Bulk water, soil, and contaminates removal

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

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

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

9. Full physical cleaning of all structure items that remain

10. A third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is recommended to perform clearance testing, 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. Elimination and disposal of all demo materials removed from the premises

For Professional Sewage Cleanup in Salt Lake City, UT, Call PuroClean!

When a sewage drain pipe backup occurs in your home or business, call the PuroClean professionals for sewage removal and cleaning services. Our technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems to fully remediate the damaged structures and contents.

The high goals of our sewage removal and cleaning services along with the rapidity 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 rescue, clean and restore all properties that are within our service areas.

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

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