Sewage damage is often referred to as “black water” and can be very dangerous to your health once compromised to it. There are a lot of hazards that sewage water can create that a lot of people don’t know about. Sewage water can pose a high risk for small children, elderly, and those who have an easily compromised immune system or respiratory problems. It is very important to mitigate the damages as soon as possible to protect you and your family’s health.
The IICRC (Institute of inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) defines sewage classifies sewage as category 3 water which is defined as grossly contaminated and can cause significant adverse reactions to humans if contacted or consumed. There are three types of sewage domestic(residential), industrial (commercial) and sewage from a non-point source such as ground or surface water. Domestic sewage is relatively constant with billions of microorganisms that provide the degradation process along with ones that can cause an infectious, allergic, or toxic response or disease
A few of the common sewage water damage pills can be caused by a toilet overflow, sewer system backup, or even high rising water in your home. A pipe breaking in a home can even progress into “black water” if the water sits there for more than 72 hours or the chemicals it comes in contact with in the property.
Water damage from a sewage source can contain grossly contaminated and can contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful angels and can cause significant adverse reactions to humans if contacted or consumed. Sewage water can contain a lot of bacteria which feeds on organic materials and under the right conditions the bacteria could double every 15 minutes. Sewage water can also contain salmonella which is a highly infectious bacterium. Gram negative bacteria produces endotoxins that are released when the cell dies which can cause an allergic response or illness.
A common misconception is to use bleach to solve a sewage backup. Chlorine bleach Is inactivated by sewage, even dead fungi and bacteria can contain chemicals that cause a health risk. When sewage damage is present it is very important the affected areas be cleaned thoroughly with an appropriate disinfectant application. Sewage often requires specific cleaning procedures
Properly mitigating a structure contaminated by sewage or black water requires a series of complex steps and thorough cleaning. There are special machines used as well such as air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and hydroxyl machines. Affordable Water Restoration has the newest and most efficient equipment on the market. Sewage can be one of the worst type of water damage to happen to your home and it is essential to hire a professional who is properly trained in mitigating these types of loses to prevent secondary damages and to protect you and your family.