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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration


Smithtown Shower Sewage Backup Leads to Contaminated Water Damage

SERVPRO of Greater Smithtown provided prompt emergency services for water damage and biohazard remediation 

Homeowners in Smithtown came home to a distressing mess when their sewer line backed up into a free-standing glass shower stall. Dirty water and solid waste forced into the pan from the drain coated the white shower base with thick, black, foul-smelling debris. One call to SERVPRO of Greater Smithtown delivered a fully-equipped and trained crew to clean, dry, and sanitize the affected area. 

Why Does Sewage Back Up?

Depending on the backup cause, contaminated water from the home’s own water pipes or the municipal sanitary system can push into a residence. This Smithtown house’s problem might trace to pipe blockage from:

  • Root infiltration
  • Internal pipe clogs from inappropriate/incomplete flushing
  • Structural defects
  • Broken and leaking waste pipes

Other reasons for sewer backups include:

  • Overwhelmed municipal sanitary sewers during torrential rains
  • Flooding around and under property from storms or broken water mains

What Health Risks Do Sewer Back Ups Pose?

The solid and fluid waste intruding into this Smithtown residence could expose residents to a range of human pathogens and other hazards, strongly suggesting the engaging of professional help to resolve the problem. Because of the risks presented, SERVPRO workers donned personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators to guard against inhaled airborne pathogens. They contained the affected room -- shower stall, toilet, and surrounding area -- using 1.6 mil polyethylene barriers and a negative pressure air scrubber during the sewage clean up. Viruses and bacteria possibly in the sewage that need specialized handling included, among others: 

  • Coli
  • Acanthamoeba
  • Salmonella
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
  • Hepatitis
  • Leptospirosis
  • Noroviruses (NoV)
  • Coxsackievirus
  • Echovirus
  • Reovirus
  • Astrovirus
  • Coronaviruses

How Did SERVPRO Workers Complete the Sewage Clean Up?

After establishing the room contaminant and observing personal safety protocols, SERVPRO of Greater Smithtown crews treated the fluids and debris with a biocide to limit handling hazards. They then extracted filthy water and bagged sewage solids for lawful disposal, following local hazardous waste regulations. Trained technicians scrubbed the stained and dirty shower base, tiles, and glass enclosure with proprietary cleaners, ensuring eradication of the source of any continuing microbial exposure to potential pathogens. Application of EPA-registered antimicrobial products effective in killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi inhibited the rebound growth of any of these organisms in the now-cleaned shower and bathroom.

What Kinds of Drying Procedures Finished the Job?

A certified SERVPRO Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT) employed sensitive water detection and moisture level measuring devices to locate water migration from the shower stall into other bathroom sections. Moisture that lingers sets up a perfect environment for mold growth, so SERVPRO searched for trapped water and damp materials in this Smithtown bathroom and took steps to mitigate the spread and remove the water. Once the crew wound up water removal services, manipulations of air movement, temperature adjustment, and dehumidification created a balance that returned the wet structural components and fixtures to normal moisture levels. The second picture illustrates hoses inserted to help achieve this balance down the drain after the cleaning and sanitizing.