How To Clean Up Raw Sewage In Basement

CONTENTS

• Why is there sewage in your basement?
• How does a sewage spill happen?
• The dangers of cleaning sewage by yourself
• How to prevent sewage spills in your basement
• What to do if sewage is in your basement
• Get in touch

When a burst pipe or severe flood brings sewage into your basement, it risks structural integrity and personal safety. Any sewage contamination requires swift intervention from a professional cleaning service to eradicate biohazards in the environment.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we can restore your basement with our sewage cleaning services. Our expert technicians utilise state-of-the-art technology and industrial-grade chemical solutions to thoroughly decontaminate, and clean a biohazardous environment.

Read on to learn more about why your basement could flood with sewage and what to do when it happens.

Why is there sewage in your basement?

If there is sewage in your basement, it could have happened due to various reasons. It is the most vulnerable area of your property due to being built in or underneath ground level.

This exposes the structure to groundwater, sewage pipes and storm drains, allowing sewage to spill into your basement easily. If sewage has flooded your basement, it may be due to:

• Blocked or damaged sanitary lateral
• Drainage failure in the foundations
• Damage or failure of the water supply
• Severe storms and flooding
• Sewer backups

How does a sewage spill happen?

Sewage spills often occur due to damaged or blocked plumbing, flood water, septic tank damage, or a sewage backflow. These incidents will require professional sewage cleaning and biohazard cleaning services to ensure your property is safe to occupy afterwards.

A spill could occur at any time, even when the weather is dry and there seems to be no damage to your pipes. As a homeowner, you must responsibly use all appliances connected to pipes, drains, and sewers.

A backup occurs due to damaged pipes or because you may have caused a blockage. Disposing of wipes, sanitary products, or food down the toilet will block it.

Pouring oils, grease, or large food waste into your sink drain might also produce a blockage. You will know it is a backup if you notice:

• A sewage-like odour in your home
• Your drains or toilet drain water slowly
• Bubbling from drains or toilets
• Multiple drain clogs at once
• Sewage coming back up the drain or toilet

A burst pipe can increase the likelihood of a sewage spill in your basement. Because the room is on the same level as pipes in the ground, your basement is more susceptible to spills.

This could happen due to general negligence or elements out of your control. If a pipe has burst, you may see signs of:

• An odour of sewage
• Spots of green, lush grass in your garden
• A flooded or soggy lawn
• Rats, mice, and insects infesting your home
• Damaged or broken walls and foundations
• Mould and mildew growing in your home

The dangers of cleaning sewage by yourself

Sewage contains pathogens from animal and human waste, and any exposure to sewage might put you at risk of contracting a severe illness. Sewage cleaning specialists are prepared and qualified to tackle a sewage spill, able to access chemicals that will kill infectious bacteria.

If there is a sewage spill in your basement, it is imperative that you do not interact with the waste or try to clean it up yourself. If you accidentally touch, inhale, or ingest the sewage waste, you may experience symptoms like:

• Stomach pains
• Sore throat
• Skin infections
• Ear infections
• Eye infections
• Chest infections

The bacteria in sewage can survive for months on surfaces. A basement with low lighting and high humidity will allow the bacteria to linger for a long time, housing pathogens like:

• Hepatitis A
• E. coli
• Staph infection
• E. faecalis

How to prevent sewage spills in your basement

One of the best ways to prevent a sewage spill or backup is by installing a backwater valve into the pipes between your property's pipes and the local sewage line.

However, these cannot prevent pipe blockages which you need to be proactive about. To prevent this from resulting in a sewage spill, you must:

• Dispose of wipes or sanitary products in a general waste bin
• Maintain your pipes regularly
• Dispose of fat, grease, or oils in a general waste bin
• Use drain catchers to keep your drains clear
• Use gentle drain cleaners instead of harsh chemicals
• Trim tree roots
• Have storm drains installed around your property

Your basement may also benefit from waterproofing systems like tanking, cavity drain membranes, or concrete additives. A sump pump will protect both your basement and home from water ingress.

What to do if sewage is in your basement

If there is a sewage spill in your basement, you should avoid interacting with the blackwater in any way. If you must re-enter the basement, do so with protective gear such as rubber gloves, eye protection, and high rubber boots. If you can do so safely, you should:

• Open all windows and doors to increase air circulation
• Use fans to dry out the room
• Dispose of any food or water items

You must call a repair company yourself if the damaged sewer pipes are on your property. However, if the source of the damage is outside of your boundary, it will be down to the local water or waste company. As soon as sewage spills in your basement, you need to:

• Contact your local water company to alert them
• Take photos and record any damage made to your home
• Call your insurance company to report the incident
• Get in touch with a sewage cleaning company

Get in touch

We can quickly and thoroughly clean up sewage spills on your property. Our biohazard cleaning specialists will arrive on-site in appropriate PPE and use high-quality solutions to effectively contain the spill, clean up all traces of the sewage, and decontaminate the affected area.

If you would like to know more about our sewage cleaning services, contact our friendly support team by calling 0208 066 0360 or sending an inquiry to enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. We can be on-site within a few hours in an emergency and are available nationwide, 24/7.