Flooding and Sewage Damage
Have you had sewage backup or water damage to your home, office? Are you concerned that you are exposed to fecal pathogens and other contaminants associated with floodwaters? Give SafeNest Environmental Testing today at 509-720-0190 or an on-site inspection to help determine the extent of bacterial contamination that has affected your home or office.
What Should I Do After a Sewage Backup?
It is recommended that you hire a water damage professional to help dry and decontaminate the space. If you attempt to clean up the water damage yourself, you may inadvertently spread contamination throughout your home, and the final result may not be what you hoped for. We have seen many rooms that appear dry and clean, but sampling reveals the presence of fecal bacteria and other contaminants.
We do not perform contracting work such as drying and cleaning. Our key role is to check the work of the contractors to ensure that fecal bacteria has been physically removed, and that the space is acceptable for re-occupancy. We routinely find deficiencies, which are not visible to the naked eye. This results in the contractor being required to re-clean the areas.
Depending on the extent of the damage, we may also recommend performing a mold assessment.
What Fecal Pathogens Are Found in Sewage?
Depending on the source of the floodwater and sewage, there may be a number of different fecal pathogens now present in your property. Some of the most significant fecal pathogens found after sewage backup or water damage include:- E. coli O157:H7
- Hepatitis A
- Salmonella
- Coliform
- Bacteroides
- Shigella
- Giardia
- Etc.
The clearance testing that we typically perform does not necessarily measure all of these fecal pathogens directly. Rather, we use indicators which are easier to measure and analyze in the laboratory.
Call SafeNest Environmental Testing Board-Certified Microbial Consultants
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