If your property has experienced a flood due to sewage, you must get it cleaned up immediately; health issues due to sewage damage being the number one reason. Cleaning up after sewage backup can also go a long way to preventing any permanent damage from occurringtoyour house or building. That’s why if your basement floods from a sewage backup, sewage cleanup should be your immediate priority.
Here are some of the reasons you should start cleaning up after a sewage backup:
Health Issues
Besides theodour, sewage contains a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites, including hepatitis B. Bacteria, which typically expires after a few hours. However, viruses can persist for many days, especially in moist, dark environments. Exposure to these viruses through sewage can have a negative effect on people’s health, especially if they suffer from any health issues or a weakened immune system or are recovering from surgery, are pregnant, or are taking prescription medication.
Sewage water pollution from industrial sites can also contain a variety of chemicals and other toxic substances. If the backup occurs before the sewage has been treated, it can potentially lead to serious health issues—ones that, as a property owner, you can be held responsible for. In such cases, cleaning up after a sewage backup is a priority.
Toxins in Sewage
As mentioned, in addition to bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, sewage can also contain a variety of toxins, with industrial waste containing heavy metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and others, which are all obviously bad for the environment. Even sewage from a home can contain toxins from cleaning materials or oils if automobile maintenance is performed in the garage. In addition, filth from personal care products can be found in household sewage, which in turn causes water pollution.
Regardless of whethersewage backupoccurs in a home or a commercial or industrial site, the area should be sealed immediately and everyone should be kept away until the matter is dealt with by professionals.
Materials That Can Be Contaminated by Sewage
Affected materials such as carpets, upholstery, bedding, fabrics, and paper should be disposed of if a backup due to sewage occurs; the same goes for drywall, insulation and other structural materials. All of these can be a breeding ground for mouldand bacteria, which can lead to serious health issues due to sewage damage.
It is strongly recommended that you leave sewage cleanup up to the professionals. Flood Services Canada is the top provider of cleanup after sewage backup in the Greater Toronto Area. Call us today for the best sewage cleanup in the GTA!
Sources:
Palmer Gordon, K., “Will sewage treatment in Victoria benefit the environment?” Focus web site, June 2014; http://focusonline.ca/?q=node/735.
“Water Damage,” Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification web site; http://www.iicrc.org/consumers/care/water-damage/, last accessed December 5, 2014.
