Sewage Backup and Contaminated Water Cleanup

Why sewage is treated differently

Sewage and other heavily contaminated water can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites. Industry guidance classifies it as the most serious water category, which means affected porous materials such as carpet, pad, insulation and drywall are normally removed and discarded, and hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected.

What you should and should not do

• Do not walk through it or try to wash it down drains
• Do not run fans that could spread contaminated air through the house
• Do not eat or drink anything that may have touched contaminated water
• Wear waterproof gloves and boots if you must enter briefly, and wash thoroughly afterward
• Photograph the damage before cleanup begins

What professional cleanup includes

Crews wear protective gear, remove standing contaminated water, take out materials that cannot be cleaned, apply disinfectant to hard surfaces, and dry the structure. Sealed containment and air filtration are used when contamination could spread. A plumber usually clears or repairs the blocked or failed line.

Who is responsible for the cause

A backup can start in your own drain line, in a shared building line or in the municipal sewer. Ask your plumber or local sewer utility where the blockage is. That determines who pays and which insurance applies.

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