KNOW THE FACTS!

Cleaning up Afterward Flood & Sewer Backups

Bacteria, fecal cloth, viruses and other organisms associated with sewer h2o backups can cause disease. Apply the following information to protect your health and prevent disease.

How do sewer backups occur?

  • Flooding of sanitary sewers during heavy rain.
  • Blockage in private sewer line (domicile, apartment).
  • Blockage in public germ-free sewer line.
  • Plumbing problems, such equally gutters/downwards spouts or sump pumps continued to sanitary sewers.

How practice I clean upward later on floods and sewer backups?

  • Odors from sewage backups are unpleasant but non harmful. Removal and cleanup of sewer h2o are essential.
  • Wash contaminated surfaces/objects with warm, soapy water and disinfect with a bleach/water solution, one cap of 5.25 percent chlorine bleach per one gallon water.
  • Discard or properly wash and disinfect toys, wear, and other contaminated objects.
  • Wear rubber boots and gloves during removal/cleanup.

How do I prevent disease during floods and sewer backups?

  • Avert skin contact with sewer water, specially cuts and sores. Keep them clean and covered.
  • Do not permit children to play in areas contaminated by sewage backup.
  • Exercise not swallow/potable anything exposed to sewer water.
  • Keep contaminated objects, water and hands away from mucous membranes (mouth, eyes and olfactory organ).
  • Wash easily often, particularly subsequently bathroom employ, before eating, and immediately following contact with sewer water or contaminated objects/surfaces.

When disinfecting contaminated objects…

  • Read and follow label instructions on bleach.
  • Never mix cleaning products.
  • Do not use ammonia.


Additional cleanup recommendations and precautions

The following guidelines may help preclude the transmission of illness and reduce holding loss.

Power

Turn off primary power switches. Air out and wipe dry out all appliances and electrical outlets exposed to h2o earlier use. If you have fuel oil or gas systems, be certain tanks are secure and all lines are free from breaks.

Carpets and rugs

You can save carpet replacement costs by keeping carpets in place and cleaning with a mild detergent; carpets cleaned later removal nearly ever compress beyond recovery. Carpets and rugs with severe exposure to water must be removed to thoroughly clean. Remove silt accumulated on rug liner. Generally, the carpet liner must exist discarded because information technology cannot be cleaned adequately. If you adopt, call a reputable rug cleaner.

Floors, drapes and furniture

Scrub and wash all objects in your home, including dress, exposed to flood waters. If available, use the city water supply; it is chlorinated adequately to provide mild disinfection. Use cold tap h2o with soap – boiling the water volition eliminate the chlorine content. Floors and other alluvion contacted surfaces should be disinfected with a chlorine solution made from household bleach. Gear up the solution by adding one heaping tablespoon of bleach (5.25%) to every four gallons of water. Take good curtains and draperies to a reputable dry out cleaner.

General

Open up all windows for drying and ventilation. Employ electrical fans.

Nutrient and water safety

Discard food exposed to flood waters. If refrigerators and/or freezers have taken in flood waters, discard nutrient stored there. If no flood water entered these appliances just power was lost long enough for foods to thaw, discard all partially thawed foods unless prepared immediately. Discard milk, cheeses and other foods decumbent to spoilage. Completely thawed meats and vegetables should be discarded without question. Discard all bulging or leaking canned nutrient.

Proceed alluvion waters away from rima oris, olfactory organ, eyes and skin if possible. Flood waters can carry microorganisms and other contaminants. Continue children from playing in water. Wash and sanitize all contaminated utensils and cookware.

Questions

For more information please phone call Hamilton County Public Health at 513-946-7800.

Download a printable version of this fact sheet hither.

250 William Howard Taft Road
2nd Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Phone 513.946.7800 Fax 513.946.7890
hamiltoncountyhealth.org