When sewer lines become obstructed, the thick, black water that presents as sewage is a health hazard, 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 pets. If you have a sewer backed up in your basement, or your toilet backs up, you will need to fix it quickly, or you will end up with sewage 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. Here’s a list of items that may help to prevent and deal with sewage backups:

Sewage Backup Causes

  • Considerable Rainfall – Excess flooding can overpower your town or city’s storm sewer system. If this happens, the water can swell into the connected sewer lines placing your home or business in possible danger of water backflow. Rising rivers and streams, hurricanes and other similar events can force flood and sewage waters to blend and present serious health related problems. You should be extremely cautious when wading 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 protect from contact or risk of breathing in these contaminants, proper PPE should be used at all times.
  • Tree Roots – Trees can have strong roots that grow into water or sewer lines and crush or break them. Damage to pipes and a sewage backup can also be caused by tree roots that aren’t even on your premises. Be acutely aware of any tree roots that can reach your water and sewer lines that lead to the main sewer line or septic system.
  • Old/Aging Sewer Lines – Older and aging sewage systems are susceptible to crumbling and cracking, inducing sewer backups, flooded basements as well as 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 fine example is: if a single toilet causes a sewage backup, the drains connected to that toilet, or the main drain lines of more toilets, will also become backed up.
  • Old and/or Damaged Lines – Older sewage systems have a tendency to suffer damage and crumble, leading to sewer water influx and flooded dwellings full of sewage. If your home or neighborhood is older, the chance is greater that you’ll experience impaired sewer lines than newer ones.
  • Heavy Rain – Heavy and rapid downpours can defeat your local storm sewer lines rapidly. If these public sewers can’t deal with excess rainfall, water can backup and flow into connected sewer lines. This can put your dwelling at risk of backflow difficulties. Area flood waters from events like surging rivers and creeks, hurricanes, or any other weather events can cause clean water to merge with sewage water and other chemicals and contaminants that cause serious health ailments. Use extreme carefulness when wading in this type of water, but also stay cautious when it dries. The dried organic waste can turn airborne and turn respirable. Proper PPE needs to be used at all times to stop contact and risk inhaling contaminated air.
  • Blocked/Clogged Sewer Lines – A fouled pipe or sewer line can force sewage to back up into your dwelling or business. If only one toilet becomes backed up, the sewer water backup can spread down the sewer lines and disturb all attached toilets on that line.
  • Tree Roots – Tree roots can cause damage to water and sewer lines. The roots from huge trees can make their way into and around the lines and damage them tremendously. If the roots under your property are not the culprit, roots from nearby trees can cross property lines and damage your sewer pipes, causing a sewage complication. Be extra aware of all tree roots near your mainline sewer pipes and/or pipes connected to your septic tank.

PuroClean’s process for sewage cleanup and sanitation in Lexington, KY

Our methods for Category 3 water (also known as sewer and contaminated water backup) cleanup, adhering to the IICRC industry standards, consists of:

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

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

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

5. Preventing all potential dangers and safety risks if possible.

6. Clearing the site of all bulk water, soil, and contaminates.

7. Removal of all contaminated porous and semi-porous materials that are not able to be saved, 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. 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. We recommend using a third-party Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) to conduct clearance testing to ensure the building is returned to a sanitary pre-loss state for health and safety.

11. Drying of all items affected by the sewer water intrusion back to pre-loss dry state

12. Post remediation cleaning of all equipment used

13. All materials from demolition process removed completely

For Professional Sewage Cleanup in Lexington, KY, Call PuroClean!

Reach out to the PuroClean specialists for sewage removal, cleaning and restoration. Whether it’s from a clogged toilet, flood waters or sewer pipe backups to take care of the problem for your dwelling. PuroClean uses the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning systems to completely and effectively clean and salvage all affected objects and structures.

The high standard of our sewage abatement and cleaning services along with the speed in which we complete the work, and the absolute care we demonstrate throughout the process make PuroClean your complete flood damage restoration and remediation company. PuroClean vows to do whatever it takes to rescue, clean and restore all properties that are within our service regions.

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

Richard Browning said, "Our experience with PuroClean was excellent."


Erin O'Brien said, "Very professional, good quality service for good price. Would highly recommend! Shawn and team did great work."


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