GENERAL PRECAUTIONS FOR SEWAGE CONTAMINATION ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

Now that we know how nasty a sewage loss can be... lets take a look at the general precautions that are recommended if you find yourself in a situation like this.* 

PERSONAL SAFETY:


• Avoid direct contact with sewage.

• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and a dust mask during cleanup.

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with sewage, especially before eating. Remember to wash children’s hands, too.

• If sewage has been swallowed, see a physician or clinic.

FOOD SAFETY:

• Discard any food without a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with sewage.

• Discard any garden produce which has come in contact with sewage. .

• Food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soda pop bottles), twist caps, flip tops, and home canned foods should be discarded if they have come into contact with sewage water because they cannot be disinfected.

CHILD SAFETY:

• Do not let children play in contaminated areas.

• Clean and disinfect their play areas.

• Wash their hands thoroughly and frequently.

• Don’t let children play with toys which have been in contact with sewage until the toys have been disinfected. Use a mild solution of 1 cup bleach in 5 gallons of water to disinfect.

• Toys that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected should be discarded.

PET SAFETY:

• Keep pets out of contaminated areas.

• Wash and disinfect pet toys.

• Bathe pets that have been in contact with sewage.

HOUSEHOLD SAFETY:

• Wash all clothing, bedding and linens in hot water or dry-clean them.

• For mattresses and upholstered furniture that becomes contaminated it should be discarded, some others may be cleaned with sanitizer and hot water extraction then air-dried in the sun and sprayed thoroughly with disinfectant.

• Thoroughly wash and disinfect dishes, utensils and food preparation equipment, which may have been exposed to sewage.

• Be sure sewer lines are intact before turning on water or using the toilet.

• Clean hard surface walls (drywall will typically need to be removed), hard surfaced floors and other surfaces with soap and water. Disinfect with a solution of 1-cup bleach to 5 gallons water. Also disinfect areas in which food is stored or prepared, such as countertops, pantry shelves, refrigerator walls and shelves.

• Discard any contaminated household materials that cannot be disinfected, such as wall coverings, rugs, carpets, and drywall.

• Ventilate cleaned areas to remove moisture and excess cleanser odors.

OUTDOORS & YARD SAFETY:

• Keep children and pets out of contaminated areas.

• If there is solid sewage waste on the ground, it may be shoveled into watertight bags, sealed and discarded in the trash. Wear rubber gloves and boots. Wash equipment when finished.

• Solid ground surfaces, such as concrete or decking, can be washed and then sanitized with 1cup bleach in 5 gallons of water.

• Other ground surfaces such as grass, ground cover, and soil, are not easily treated. However, sunlight, rain, watering systems, and soil components, will naturally denature sewage contamination, usually within 2 weeks.

• Discard garden produce directly contaminated by sewage.

As I started this two part blog, nothing disrupts your life like sewage backup or overflow. It Stinks!  Yes, there are many things that you could do to take care of a sewage backup but do you really want to?  I highly recommend a call to your insurance agent and then a call to a professional restoration company like ServiceMaster Anytime.  We have the equipment, training, personal protective equipment, proper health vaccinations and precautions  in place and proper sanitizing and cleaning protocols. Visit us at www.svma.com


*These are only general precautions and should be be considered a substitute for exact protocol in any particular sewage contamination.