Sewage Cleanup and Restoration

Water from sewer system backups should be considered very dangerous. The water is grossly unsanitary and may contain bacteria and viruses that could cause serious illness. Special training and equipment is necessary to safely clean this type of contamination.

Here is a list of the main Proper Protective Equipment that is used during the sewage cleanup.

  1. A protective disposable coveralls with or without built-in booties should be worn with the appropriate size.
  2. Inner gloves should be a minimum of 6-mil nitrile. At SERVPRO we recommend that the inner glove to have a long cuff, about 11 inches or longer.
  3. Outer gloves should be nitrile and the same thickness as inner glove, can be a shorter length glove.
  4. Disposable booties should be on-hand. These are recommended to be used even if using a suit with built-in booties, they will provide additional layer of protection.
  5. Knee pads will be worn under the suit and should be used if work is going to involve technicians getting down on their knees.
  6. Full-face air purifying respirators with appropriate HEPA cartridges should be worn until the risk of microorganism and blood-borne pathogens exposure has been eliminated.
  7. Using a face shield or a half-face or N-95 respirator is recommended when dealing with a trauma scene clean up.

Sewage Backup or Toilet Overflow? Call Us Today – (940) 241-3434

There are three major types of contaminated water. SERVPRO of Highland Village will inspect that contaminated water to determine the type of water and then plan the appropriate response to safely restore your home or business.

The three types of contaminated water:

Category 1: "Clean Water"

This is water from a clean source, such as a broken clean water supply line or faucet. If left untreated, category 1 water can quickly degrade into category 2 or 3 water depending upon such factors as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants.

  • Water from a clean source like a broken water line
  • If left untreated, can degrade into category 2 or 3

Category 2: "Gray Water"

This water has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.

  • May contain bacteria and viruses
  • Can quickly degrade into category 3 if left untreated

Category 3: "Black Water"

This water is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for category 3 water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

  • May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
  • Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

24 Emergency Service

Sewage backup should be considered an emergency and dealt with as quickly as possible. We are the water damage restoration specialists with specific training and expertise to safely restore your home or business.