Keep Your Home or Business Safe from Sewage Damage

Water damage caused by a leaky pipe, a heavy spring rain shower, or faulty appliance is rarely welcome by homeowners or building owners. However, if given the choice between water damage caused by one of those culprits versus water damage caused by a sewer-related issue, sewage damage loses every time.

Good Water Gone Bad

Aside from the root cause, the biggest difference between these two types of damage is the water itself. When it comes to contamination, water is divided into three categories:

• Category 1: Clean Water comes from clean water supply sources, such as a faucet or direct water line. This water is considered safe, but if the leak is left untreated, over time it can transition to a Category 2 or 3.
• Category 2: Gray Water contains possible contamination of bacteria and viruses, coming from an overflow of a dishwasher, washing machine, or toilet. In this category, there may be traces of urine, but no feces.
• Category 3: Black Water is considered very dangerous causing illness or even death if ingested. The water can be contaminated with untreated sewage, including feces, chemicals, and harmful bacteria and viruses. Sources include toilet trap water, standing water, and flooding from rivers, ponds, and streams.

All water caused by sewage damage–sewer back-up, broken waste pipe, toilet overflow, septic back up, flooded lakes and rivers– is considered to contain black water by the industry. This is the worst type of water damage and can be dangerous given the potential health risk should a person come in direct contact with it.

Festering in the water are pathogens and parasites that can lead to serious infections and diseases. Additionally, fertilizer run-off, industrial chemicals, and other hazardous materials pose a threat to the toxicity of the contaminated water.  

Sewage Safety

If you suspect sewage damage in your home or workplace, stay away and call in a professional sewage cleanup service immediately. The longer the problem is unaddressed, the further the problem can spread and cause cross-contamination throughout your property.

Addressing the sewage damage quickly is key, but avoiding it all together is even better. Follow these tips to help keep your home safe from sewage damage:

• Hire a professional plumber to inspect your property for any weak points in your sewer systems.
• Have a professional plumber install interior or exterior back flow prevention valve to avoid sewage backup.
• If heavy rains fall, sewage can back up through plumbing fixtures and floor drains. Employ rubber or wooden plugs into floor drains, and other plumbing fixtures on lower levels of your home.
• If you have a septic tank, avoid a blockage in the drain or sewer. For example, only flush toilet paper and bodily excrement in the toilet–other paper products can cause a clog. Also, avoid dumping grease and solid food down your kitchen sink drain.
• Have your outdoor property inspected for potentially harmful tree roots that can infiltrate pipes in search of a water source.
• Replace clay and metal pipes with PVC or other plastic substitutions.

Contact A&J Property Restoration for your emergency sewage cleanup services today!

While you may want to try sewage cleanup on your own, for the safety of your health, this is a project where professional sewage cleanup services are needed. Call us right away for help if you have sewage damage you need cleaned up.

A&J Specialty Services Inc provides 24/7 emergency water restoration and sewage clean up services for homes and businesses around Madison, Middleton, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Milwaukee, Brookfield, WI Dells, Fort Atkinson, Watertown, Oconomowoc, Waukesha, West Allis, and surrounding Dane County Wisconsin areas.