Sewage Damage Classifications

10/7/2021 (Permalink)

Sewage cleaning requires a professional.

Sewage damage cleanup comes with a whole host of other challenges than a typical water damage cleanup. All water damage cleanups are considered emergency restoration work, but a sewage damage situation has a lot of moving parts that need to be taken care of beforehand in order to properly handle this type of situation. In Virginia, there are various situations where sewage damage can occur. Sewage is a prominent problem in our Coastal Virginia area since we are surround by many rivers, bays and the Atlantic Ocean. What are the differences between a water damage and a sewage job? There are two types of sewage damages: one has to deal with black water and the other is gray water.

Black water can potentially contain many harmful contaminants. This type of sewage would consist of raw sewage's which may be contaminated with harmful bacteria, mold, viruses, and microbes that are harmful to humans. Some diseases that can coincide with black water are cholera and hepatitis. Many of the symptoms involve vomiting, fever, and flu-like symptoms. These diseases can spread quickly in our area. Another type of sewage damage is known as gray water.

Gray water has similar health risks as black water, but it also contains chemical contamination. This type of sewage damage can be caused by dishwashers and washing machines, all of which are found in homes throughout Coastal Virginia. In many cases, gray water damage needs to be handled in a similar manner as black water damage cases. Due to the sewage containing many factors associated with chemicals, it is important to understand the necessity of cleaning this damage up in a thorough manner.

One damage that is not considered sewage is clean water damage. Clean water damage does not pose an immediate risk to an individual. These situations generally occur from a sink overflowing, waterline breaking, or a leaky roof. Clean water damage can, however, turn into gray water over time as it is exposed to elements. If clean water comes in contact with porous materials, it can cause mold to grow; in the case of drywall, the contaminated drywall would need to be removed.

SERVPRO of Kempsville/Military Circle has many years of experience in handling all varieties of water damage claims, including sewage damage. Our professional crews servicing the Kempsville/Military Circle area can professionally remove the contaminated water from your property. If water damage is present, call our office 757.479.4447 and we can remove and restore your property to its original condition.