Complications of Sewage Damage
Sewage and Storm Damage

Did you know it’s not just your waste that just came back up out of your toilet or shower drain?

Sewage contains all sorts of nasties, and not just the nasties we can see or smell!

Sewage obviously contains human waste but it also contains;

• Lawfully and unlawfully dumped chemical waste
• Cleaning Solutions (Detergents, bleaches, ammonia, caustic compounds, etc.
• Paints, solvents, degreases, etc
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Chemicals used in illicit drug manufacturing.
• Medical byproducts, such as cytotoxins
• Illicit drugs which are dumped or have passed through the body
• Bacteria and virus’
• Food and cooking wastes
• Animal excrement
• And anything else that can be flushed down a toilet

Sewage and most water from storm damage is considered to be grossly contaminated.  This is referred to as “Black Water”

Black water contaminations require extra knowledge and extra steps in the clean up process to ensure a property is returned to a sanitary condition.

Not all black water is discoloured.  Storm water that has entered via a roof, may have come in contact with contaminants that can not be seen or smelled.  The only way to know is to test surfaces that have been wet for Bacterial load. - Learn More

Storm water that has entered via the ground, is always considered as black water.

Once it is established, either visually or by surface swabbing that a property has been contaminated with black water or sewage, the following steps are required;

• Containment is required to prevent aerosolised, fungi, bacteria or viruses from spreading throughout the building
• Air Filtration and Odour Control Devises may be required.
• All gross material removed and returned to the sewer system.
• All liquid removed by extraction and returned to the sewer system.
• All contents items removed from room for cleaning or disposal.
• All porous material removed from room.  This may include;
• Floor Coverings
• Skirting boards and architraves (MDF)
• Wall/ceiling linings
• Entire contaminated room cleaned and sanitised
• Room dried
• Subject to the health of the occupants whole of room non touch disinfection may be required. - (Ozone/H2O2 Mist/UV Light/etc)
• Final testing and validation conducted using ATP and/or Mycometer testing

What is Sewage

What is Required

So What’s The Big Deal?

In the built environment, sewage or black water contamination that is not cleaned and treated correctly and in a timely manner will become an extreme health hazard for occupants of the building.

Harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi will continue to breed and spread so long as conditions remain favourable for them to do so.

Many of these micro organisms will become aerosolised and spread throughout the building.

Other contaminations, such as Lead, PCB’s, Insecticides, asbestos, cytotoxins, will remain in the building.

In short, over a relative short period of time the building will begin to poses a severe health risk to the occupants.

References;

• IICRC S520 Standard
• IICRC S500 Standard
• Technicians Training Manual: Professional Sewage Cleanup and Remediation - Patrick J Moffett. 2008