Outdoor Sewage Spill Clean-up

When an outdoor sewage spill occurs, it’s important to know what actions to take. It is never a convenient time to experience an outdoor sewage spill, but what matters the most is how you act. You need to evaluate the situation quickly, get your personal protection ready, and secure the area. Let’s review these steps in detail.

Evaluate the situation

First, take immediate action to minimize the damage. Second, protect your pets and children by keeping them away. Third, be sure to avoid contact with the sewage until you are wearing protective clothing to shield yourself against harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Personal Protection

The ideal way to protect yourself from contamination is to wear rubber gloves, rubber boots, a waterproof bodysuit, goggles, and a mask. However, chances are you will not have all these protective items on hand. If this is the case, items like sunglasses, jeans, long-sleeved jackets, raincoats, gardening gloves, and waterproof hiking boots can offer some protection. For extra protection, cut head and armholes in a large plastic trash bag to wear over your clothing.

Once the clean-up is complete, it is best to throw away the clothes you were wearing. If you plan are keeping them, be sure you wash them separately on a hot wash setting. Other protective actions to bear in mind when you are in close contact to raw sewage are:

•   Avoid eating or drinking in the contaminated area.

•   Wash your hands after every encounter with the sewage.

•   Cover any cuts to prevent direct contact with the sewage.

Area Security

The contaminated area must be avoided to prevent illness or further contamination. It is important not to let your children or pets near the affected areas. This may be difficult, especially if you have young children that play outside or pets that need to go out regularly.

To secure the area, remove all movable objects, immediately. These items, plus hard surfaces such as driveways, patios, and decking, need to be scrubbed clean. For cleaning, use a hard bristle brush, bleach, and soap with water that is as hot as possible.

After the sewage clean-up, the contaminated items need to be disinfected. Act as quickly as possible, because the longer objects are contaminated, the higher the risk.

If you do experience a sewage disaster, the professionals of SunGlo Disaster Restoration Specialists are here to help with your clean-up and restoration.