Cleaning up a Sewage Spill

Thorough cleaning of indoor sewage spills is necessary to protect people, especially small children, from harmful bacteria and viruses. Clean up should begin as soon as possible to reduce the risk of exposure to sewage.

Clean up tips:

  • Keep children and pets out of the area until cleanup has been completed.
  • Wear rubber gloves and boots.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly and launder clothes separately after completing the cleanup.
  • Remove all furniture, loose rugs, etc., from the area.
  • Saturated wall-to-wall carpeting (and pad) usually cannot be adequately cleaned. They should be removed and taken to a transfer station. If the carpet is not saturated and you decide to keep it, hire a licensed carpet cleaning company to steam clean and disinfect the carpet.
  • All hard surfaces, such as linoleum, hardwood floors, concrete, wood moldings, wood, metal furniture, etc., should be thoroughly cleaned with hot water and a mild detergent (dish detergent), and then rinsed with a bleach solution by mixing one tablespoon of liquid household bleach to one gallon of water. Let the surface air dry.
  • Upholstered furniture, loose rugs, drapery, etc., should be professionally cleaned after informing the cleaner of the exposure to sewage.
  • Remove and replace plaster, plasterboard, and lath that have been saturated and are soft to the touch. If the surface has only been wetted, clean as you would a hard surface, but do not saturate the plaster.
  • Clean sinks, dishwashers, and other plumbing fixtures that have had sewage backup with detergent, then rinse with the bleach solution.
  • Disinfect clean-up mops, brooms, and brushes with the bleach solution.
  • Increase air circulation to reduce odors and mold growth -- open all windows, doors, and use fans and heaters to help speed this process.

Outdoor sewage spills:

  • Keep children and pets out of the area until cleanup has been completed.
  • Wear rubber gloves and boots.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly and launder clothes separately after completing the cleanup.
  • Immediately stop sewage from surfacing by eliminating water flow to the system.
  • Repair plumbing or sewage disposal system as needed to prevent further failure. Obtain a permit from EMD for a repair when required.
  • Shovel and bag all solid waste in the spill area. Dispose in the trash container.
  • Disinfect the area by spraying a bleach solution that is made by mixing one tablespoon of liquid household bleach to one gallon of water.
  • Disinfect clean-up mops, brooms, and brushes with the bleach solution.
  • Allow spill area to air dry.
  • If using an onsite sewage disposal system, have septic tank pumped often to prevent sewage from surfacing until system is repaired.

Helpful Information about Sewage Systems:

 

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