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Having to deal with raw sewage cleanup and restoration after a sewage explosion is no one’s favorite job. After all, raw sewage isn’t just murky colored water… something within the water makes it that color. And more often than not, those things in the water are smelly, unpleasant, and hazardous to your health and home. So if you find yourself in a situation where sewage has leaked out of your pipe and is flowing openly in your home or on your property, you need to know how to act so that you can start the sewage cleanup process as soon as possible.
So, we have put together this article to inform you about sewage explosions, why they need to be handled swiftly and efficiently, and how to respond should the situation arise. So, let’s get into it!
If there has been a sewage explosion or sewage backup issue, people often grapple with finding an answer to understand why this is happening and how they could have prevented it from happening in the first place. Even though what’s happened has already happened, we still desire to grasp what brought this on. A few things can cause a sewage backup issue and the need for a sewage restoration.
These situations can create a dangerous environment for the inhabitants of your home and surrounding area. This includes your neighbors, wildlife, and the elected sewage restoration, team. Depending on the type of water that has spilled out, you could be in potential danger. Sewage water can contain bacteria, mold spores, fecal matter, animal products, and more.
This is why having the sewage cleanup process handled by a team of trained professionals is what most people opt to do. An experienced sewage restoration operator can identify what type of water is present, what equipment will be required, and what the initial cause was. They will arrive with all the necessary protective gear to tackle the situation safely, without risk of exposure to harmful contaminants and bacteria.
There are three types of water you may encounter when you experience a sewage backup or explosion. Professional restoration service professionals categorize these waters into categories 1, 2, and 3. They may also be referred to as clean water, greywater, and blackwater. Let’s take a closer look at these categories of water to understand the difference and the varying implications of exposure.
Category 1 water is water that comes from a clean source, such as a leaking faucet or a cracked pipe carrying clean, drinkable water. This is the cleanest and, therefore, the least threatening type of water to which one could be exposed. However, suppose this water is left to sit and isn’t dealt with promptly. In that case, it can quickly evolve into greywater or blackwater, depending on the exposure to its surroundings, such as bacteria, temperature, and time.
Category 2 water is often referred to as greywater and has some contaminants and has usually been used to some extent. But at the very least, it has been exposed to potentially harmful contaminants and bacteria. You should immediately stop drinking the tap water if greywater has infiltrated your clean water pipes. Some examples of greywater are the water from your washing machine, your dishwasher, and really any water that goes down the drain after typical things like washing your hands or brushing your teeth.
Greywater is potentially harmful to humans but can still be safe to use in other areas of your property, such as watering your garden. However, if left untreated, it can quickly evolve to category 3 water, which you don’t want to encounter at all.
Category 3, AKA blackwater, is the worst type of sewage water you could be exposed to. Blackwater is highly contaminated water that, if exposed to or ingested, could cause serious illness or even death in some severe cases. It’s not something that should be taken lightly. Blackwater comes from rivers or streams post-flooding, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet containing feces, or even standing water (previously category 1) but has been left to fester and house microbial growth.
You should avoid contact with this water at all costs. If accidentally exposed to blackwater, you should immediately clean up with soap and sanitizer. And if you ingest blackwater, you should reach out to your Dr. for further steps.
As we have outlined above, exposure to any water category could be potentially harmful. Even category 1 water has the potential to eventually cause harm if left untreated or ingested.
Even if you’re not directly drinking contaminated water, you are still at risk of contracting the above and other conditions simply by touching it, especially if you were to touch the water and then touch your face or rub your eye without adequately cleaning your hands first. This is why protective gear is essential for any sewage water cleanup.
We’re going to cut to the chase here because we want you to hear us loud and clear:
Always hire a professional team to manage your sewage water cleanup.
After you reach out for help, a professional restoration operator will arrive on-site to inspect the situation and map a plan for your sewage restoration. They will arrive equipped and dressed in full protective gear. This is vital, even when dealing with category 1 water, as it’s impossible to know if it’s clean water before arriving and testing it.
Once they have defined the type of water that has burst into your property, they will chart a plan and start the water extraction. After all the water (both standing and absorbed) has been extracted, they will begin cleaning and sanitizing. This is a vital step to ensure that your home is safe and mold growth doesn’t appear in the near future.
Hiring a team of sewage cleanup professionals is the best way to ensure that the issue has comprehensively been dealt with and that your home is safe and not at risk of weakened infrastructures and lingering contaminants.
What an amazing response! I had a great experience with Restoration Operators – Connecticut! I called them immediately after my house flooded and they came out within 45 min. It’s a great choice!
Amazing job. Our basement flooded twice
and the did outstanding work drying it out
quickly. Very responsive and were very easy
to work with.
I cannot express how grateful I am for the amazing service provided by this sewage cleanup company. They arrived promptly and efficiently cleaned up the mess left by a broken sewer line.
Restoration Operators did an awesome job for us fixing water damage! We would not hesitate to recommend them to friends and to use this company again if the need arises.
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