DIY should not be used for floodwater cleanups in Central Maryland, and here's why!

When water invades a home and seeps into living areas of a residence, the water becomes a verified intruder in more ways than one. Whenever there are floodwaters that flow into the lower levels of a home, there is the chance that sewage contaminants will be picked up by the floodwaters as well. Generally speaking, floodwaters are a destructive force in a home or business. It can penetrate foundations and lower level structures to weaken materials in the home’s inner walls and foundation quickly. Add to the element of general water damage the factor of sewage that can accompany water when there is a sewage leak event in the home or business property.

Most people don’t realize that when sewage water contaminates the basement area of a home, or lower levels of a commercial property, it brings with it a highly significant threat to human health and safety in those regions. Sewage and microorganisms create a dangerous mix when raw sewage mixes with floodwaters during high and severe weather events. The reason that sewage water is so dangerous is because it contains high levels of contaminants, including:
•    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
•    Sterols
•    Salmonella
•    Shigella
•    Staphylococcus
•    Nitrobacter
•    Bacteria
•    Bacillus
•    Clostridium
•    Human waste
•    Lead
•    Mercury
•    Flagellates
•    Viral pathogens
•    Hepatitis A
•    Anaerobic bacteria
•    Detergents
•    E. coli
•    Pathogenic organisms
Likewise, there are also environmental factors that hold dangers when exposed to them, such as:
•    Biologically active compounds
•    CODs, BODs, TOCs
•    Phosphorus
•    Grease and oils
•    Biodiesels
•    Environmental hazards
•    Environmental estrogens
•    Nitrogen
•    Pharmaceuticals

Any time that there is the possibility of raw sewage mixing with floodwaters, there is a high risk of dangerous diseases that can be part of the equation. The cleanup of sewage leaks can be critical to help prevent adverse effects on human health. The presence of human waste in sewage water is especially dangerous because there are over 100,000 different types of viruses that are found in human waste. Other pathogenic diseases that can be spread through sewage water include:
•    Gastroenteritis
•    Typhoid fever
•    Diarrhea
•    Cholera

It is important to note that many dangerous chemicals are present in the ground and when floodwaters pass over these areas, the water naturally picks up and carries the contaminants with it to be deposited elsewhere. For this reason, the chemicals that may be present in sewage water may also vary depending on the type of catchment, such as to whether there are combined:
•    Domestic wastes
•    Industrial wastes
•    Dead animal wastes

In the event that a residence or commercial building is contaminated with a sewage backup, the sewage needs to be cleaned up and the area requires sanitation immediately. Once the sewage is able to penetrate the walls of a home structure, the wood, concrete or other areas of the home related to the foundation of a building or the building itself, there is the opportunity for the growth of dangerous microorganisms and mycotoxins to occur.

Generally speaking, the sewage will leave behind a long list of contaminants, waste products, diseases and hazardous compounds, which threaten human health and safety. In some areas, the water and fungus often accompanying a sewage backup allow the prime conditions to exist for the initialization of a growth of gram-negative bacteria, toxic fungus and dangerous microorganisms that are adverse and hazardous to human health.

Any time that you have a sewage water leak or floodwaters that contain sewage or contaminated water affecting your residential or commercial property, just give us a call. We will come to you fast to remediate sewage water cleanups to protect your property and your health. We will get you back up and running fast. Call us today, we have crews standing by to service you right now!