Immediate evacuation is recommended if sewage backup occurs in a home. Occupants should avoid contact with sewage-contaminated water and surfaces, as well as minimize exposure to indoor air contaminants by opening windows and doors for ventilation.
Quickly handling sewage backups is important for everyone's safety. If left untreated, it can cause more health problems and damage to the house. It's not something you should ignore. Living in a house with sewage backup is very risky.
Sewage contains harmful bacteria, germs, and viruses that make any area with an active leak unsafe. The longer a leak is active, the more damage it does to your home — and the greater the risk of your family becoming sick from touching the sewage or breathing in contaminated air.
Sewage backups bring in dangerous bacteria, viruses, and waste. This poses a big risk to your health. It can cause problems like stomach bugs, skin issues, trouble breathing, and allergies. If your house is not safe because of sewage, get out right away.
The drying out process can take several weeks in an enclosed area such as a basement or crawl space, and growth of microorganisms will continue as long as the humidity remains high.
Though not entirely toxic, long exposure to sewer gas can cause serious respiratory problems. Enough of it can even cause symptoms of sewer gas poisoning. The most basic way of telling if you have a sewer gas leak is its smell.
How Long Does It Take to Get Sick From Sewage Backup? If you have become sick due to contact with sewage, you will likely start to develop symptoms within 1 to 3 days. If your symptoms are very severe and last longer than two days, you should call your healthcare provider for help.
FROM RAW SEWAGE
Wash your hands well with clean water and soap before you eat or smoke, after using the toilet, and after working. DO NOT touch your nose, mouth, eyes, or ears with your hands, unless you just washed them. Keep your fingernails short. Use a stiff soapy brush to clean under your nails.
Answer: Only under extremely unusual circumstances. Although hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas, it will not harm people at the concentrations that exist in a house with sewer gas odor problems. Studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide has a depressant effect on the central nervous system in concentrations above 150 ppm.
Biohazard contaminants should be considered very dangerous as they can pose a serious health risk. Sewer backups and flood water are two common biohazard scenarios that can affect homes and businesses.
Wash contaminated surfaces and objects with warm, soapy water and disinfect with a bleach and water solution made of no more than 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water. For objects that would be damaged by bleach, use a home or laundry disinfectant. Make sure to read and follow label instructions. Do not use ammonia.
Homeowners insurance may cover sewer line damage if it stems from something already included in your policy, like a fire or windstorm. Sewer line damage that is the result of wear and tear is excluded from home insurance coverage.
Most people exhibit no symptoms, and the diseases are of short duration. However, in severe infections symptoms can include high fever with head and body aches, stiff neck, muscle weakness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions and, in the most severe cases, coma or paralysis.
Contact a Professional Plumber
A sewer backup is not a DIY situation. You need to call a professional plumber who specializes in sewer line repairs.
Tree roots can grow into and obstruct the sewer lines; or extraordinary amounts of rainfall can infiltrate the system and overload it. The courts have made it clear that the city is liable for sewer back-up damages if, and only if, the city's negligence causes damages.
Take steps to protect your health and safety when reentering your flooded home. When returning to a home that's been flooded after natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, be aware that your house may be contaminated with mold or sewage, which can cause health risks for your family.
With higher concentrations of sewer gas, the health effects can be severe and may include loss of consciousness, respiratory distress, coma, or even death. Additionally, if someone already has a respiratory illness, even minor exposures to sewer gas can cause a serious health issue.
Rinse your mouth out and clean your teeth. Rinse with a good mouthwash and also make sure you drink 8 glasses or fluid - preferably water. If you begin to feel sick or not well in any way at all, or develop a fever get yourself to an ER and explain what happened.
In an untreated situation, sewage contamination can persist for weeks or even months, posing a health risk to your family. Sewage contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause a variety of illnesses, including: Gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea, vomiting)
Some common signs and symptoms associated with sewage-related illnesses include: Gastrointestinal distress: This can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and loss of appetite. These symptoms may indicate an infection caused by bacteria such as Salmonella or Campylobacter.
Sewage backup is a serious issue that requires immediate attention and professional intervention. Due to the health hazards associated with sewage contamination, it is not safe to stay in a house with sewage backup.
Irritated eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system, including tearing of eyes, cough, or shortness of breath. Effects may be delayed. Severe eye and respiratory irritation such as coughing and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may be accompanied by headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and more.
Backed up sewer lines, line breaks, sewage odors, and overflowing manholes are considered an emergency. When a sewage backup is occurring, do not use your toilet, shower, washing machine, or other appliances that send water down a drain.