Continuous heavy rainfall, floods, and other water overflows can strain your sanitary sewers and septic systems that can cause a sewer backup. This can affect the health of your family if an appropriate remedy is not done immediately.

Signs of a sewage backup:

When your toilet overflows after flushing, that means waste water does not drain properly under the toilet base. Another sign is water coming up into the tubs or water strainer of your shower causing a flood of dirty water. If the water is draining slowly from the toilet bowl, water does not drain after washing the dishes in the sink, or a foul smell of raw sewage is coming from the drains, these are signs that you’re having sewage backup.

What you should do if you have a sewer backup:

• Refrain from flushing the toilets.
• Don’t let your children and pets stay close to the sewage.
• Never use your bare hands to touch raw sewage.
• Wear rubber gloves to protect you from contamination with the sewage, and wash your hands immediately after working on it.
• If you have a local sewer system, contact the sewer department in your area. You can also call the water pollution control authority, the local public works department, or you can search their websites.
• If you have your own septic tank system, search the web for a company engaged in water damage restoration that offers flat rates on materials and labor.
• Clean and dry up the affected area immediately and discard any contaminated objects after clearing the sewer backup to avoid diseases.

How dangerous is a sewer backup?

Sewage backup can cause contamination to your water coming from the well. It can also harm the surface water used for drinking from lakes, streams, rivers, ponds and reservoirs. Since sewage is the dwelling place of bacteria, viruses, and other germs, it can cause diseases making your home contaminated and unfit for living. After a sewage backup, you might decide to hire a professional if you can’t do it yourself.

In getting an expert company to do the job, they should perform an initial assessment to determine the extent of the damage, and submit a price quotation. Ask them to provide a scope of work that includes replacement options for contaminated wallboard and floor coverings. Your health should be foremost in your mind than the amount you’ll spend in resolving your sewer backup problem.