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The following guidelines are intended to assist the resident or owner and
are not intended to be an inclusive list of recommended procedures and
precautions following a sewer back-up. Depending on the individual
circumstances of each loss situation and in order to ensure a healthy indoor
environment for current and future occupants it may be necessary to contact a
professional water damage restoration service.
Sewage and flood waters contain bacteria and other hazardous
microorganisms. These can be transmitted by touching contaminated
items or by tracking them into uncontaminated areas on shoes. Children
and pets are especially vulnerable. Frequent hand washing is an
important preventive measure.
Potential health and safety hazards must be identified and, if possible,
eliminated prior to implementing cleaning or restoration procedures.
Before entering the affected area the potential for electrical shock hazards
and gas leaks must be assessed.
It is very important to begin mitigation procedures as soon as safely
possible to minimize subsequent health hazards and primary property loss and
to avoid secondary damage to structural materials or microorganism development
(mold and mildew). Loss mitigation begins with rapid response, and
involves reasonable and prudent steps required to preserve, protect and secure
property from additional secondary damage. Unlike fire or other similar
type losses, water losses may not start out severe, but may end up causing
damage because of delay in cleaning up the water or sewage. The prospect
of successful restoration depends largely on the speed with which the building
and personal property can be dried. Generally, by taking proper
emergency action immediately, a sewer back-up will result in either no damage
or minimum damage caused by the water.
The Town does not provide or arrange
for any cleaning that may be needed inside a building following a sewer
back-up. The resident or owner has the responsibility to
minimize damage.
1. Treat all water-impacted surfaces and furnishings as
unhealthy, until properly cleaned.
2. Keep children and pets out of the affected area until the
area is properly cleaned.
3. If there is no risk of electrical shock, turn off circuit
breakers supplying electricity to wet areas; unplug and remove any small
electrical devices currently located on wet floor coverings or other wet
areas.
4. Do not use any electrical equipment while standing in water.
Operate wet vacuums only when plugged into a ground fault interrupter or
ground fault equipped outlet.
5. Remove all water and sewage from the basement or other
affected area as rapidly and safely as possible.
6. Extracted waste water must be disposed of in a sanitary
sewer system.
7. Ventilate the affected area with the use of floor fans, and
a dehumidifier if available, to properly dry the area. You may rent
floor fans and dehumidifiers. If it has not been directly contacted by
water activate the building's HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning)
system, turn on exhaust or ceiling fans and open windows and doors when
conditions are favorable. Careful consideration must be given to whether
use of existing drying resources might serve as a means of spreading
contamination or pose a safety hazard.
8. Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors; mildew and
expanded water damage may result.
9. Decontaminate sewage-damaged materials by spraying them
with, or immersing within, a cleaning solution. This treatment will not
provide full disinfection, nor is it intended to do so. The objective of
initial decontamination is to commence the reduction and mitigation of
microorganisms as quickly as possible. It is important to recognize that
exposure to materials treated during initial decontamination poses a health
risk and may result in an adverse reaction. A second disinfection should
take place following the initial cleaning.
10. All tools and machines used, especially pumps, vacuum recovery
tanks and hoses must also be cleaned and decontaminated.
11. Remove and secure small furniture items as possible to minimize
rust or stains and expedite restoration.
12. Place aluminum foil under legs of wood furniture, especially
antiques that may permanently stain carpet.
13. Thoroughly clean and dry all wood furniture and other wooden
items then wipe them with an oil-base wood polish.
14. Hang draperies and pin up furniture skirts as possible to prevent
contact with wet floor coverings, minimizing damage such as water marks, dye
transfer and migration.
15. Remove, clean and dry all wet rugs, clothing, shoes, books, paper
goods, fabrics, potted plants, items stored in boxes or other items that may
stain the carpet (check especially under beds and in closets). Valuable
books and documents may be frozen to retard mildew growth until cleaning and
drying can be performed.
16. Remove and secure breakables, moisture sensitive or high-value
items.
17. It is recommended that a determination be made as to whether
floor covering materials (e.g., carpet, cushion, vinyl, wood, laminates) are
salvable. Considerations may include, but are not necessarily limited
to, owner preference, construction integrity, porosity, and potential health
effects from contaminates.
18. Take up saturated rugs and carpets when hardwood floors are at
risk.
19. If the water was high enough to involve a motor on a furnace, or
electrical appliance, call a reputable repair business to remove the motor and
dry it. In most cases a motor can be dried without incurring any
damage to the motor.
20. Take all items that have finely machined parts, such as sewing
machines and typewriters, to a repair facility immediately for cleaning and
oiling.
21. Transport computers to a dry environment, remove cases and blow
dry with low pressure air and contact a repair facility.
22. Wash all concrete or tile floors with fresh water, then wash them
with a strong germ-killing and odor-killing solution.
23. Other than paper products, there are very few items that are
permanently damaged by water unless allowed to sit in that wet condition.
Water will not hurt metal or wood if thoroughly dried and wiped down with some
form of oil. Clothing and carpet not cleaned and dried will mildew
and stain. Motors and machine metal parts can be saved if thoroughly
dried by a professional. Floor tile and carpeting will remain secure if
the water is removed immediately, otherwise, the water will dissolve the
adhesives used in securing the floor tile or carpet to the floor. Wood
furniture, wood paneling, and other wooden objects will check, separate, stain
or warp if left wet.
For additional information about sewer back-ups call The Sewer Department
at 784-5282.
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