Sewer Backup Dangers

7/27/2018 (Permalink)

Don’t treat a sewer backup lightly. Sewer backups are emergencies. They are health hazards. Sewer water often holds bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that can lead to serious illnesses. If your sewer backs up in your home or building or on your property, know what type of sewer water you’re dealing with: 

Clean Water
Some water backups are clean. Examples include a broken water supply line or leaking faucet. If you don’t treat it quickly this type of water backup can get more serious. Without attention and clean up, any water can become gray water (category 2) or black water (category 3).

Gray Water
Gray water is water from a sewer line backup that’s contaminated and could cause discomfort or illness. You have gray water (category 2) if the water’s from a washing machine overflow; a toilet overflow with some urine (no feces); or a dishwasher overflow. This type of sewer water backup can quickly degrade into black water (category 3) if not treated. Again, quick clean up is important.

Black Water
 Pros use this term to describe grossly contaminated water. Sewer drain backups like this could cause severe illness or death if ingested. Avoid all contact with black water. You have black water when you have 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.

Call SERVPRO of Los Gatos/Monte Sereno whenever you have sewer backup problems.

At SERVPRO of Los Gatos/Monte Sereno we’re trained in the safest, most advanced, and quickest ways to eliminate all sewer backups.