When a sewage spill occurs on your property, your health and the local environment nearby could be at risk. Whether you have had a spillage on a work site or at home, it is imperative that you act quickly to contain the biohazards and have them cleaned.

You can rely on ICE Cleaning’s sewage spill experts in an emergency. They will be on-site at your earliest convenience to effectively contain, clean, and decontaminate a site affected by sewage spillage.

Read on to learn more about how to identify a sewage leak and remain safe whilst containing it.

What are the early signs of a sewage spill?

Sewer spills and leaks are just the first sign of a snowballing issue. If left alone, there may be an environmental impact, biohazard risks and structural damage. Upon noticing the first signs of a spill, you must act quickly to contain it. Some of the early indicators of a spill could include.

• Low water pressure
• Water damage on walls and ceilings
• Fresh green patches of grass
• Foundation or structural damage
• Sewage smell
• Noises of running water
• A sudden appearance of pests

What risks are present during a sewage spill

In the event of a sewage spill, there is more at cost other than a pungent smell on your property. Regardless of the size of it, sewage can present a lot of health hazards due to the bacteria present in the waste. 

You must keep your distance from the spill where possible, as interacting with it in any way could cause you to contract a virus like:

• Giardiasis
• Gastroenteritis
• Shigellosis (Dysentery and bacillary)
• Leptospirosis
• Hepatitis A
• Salmonella
• Cryptosporidiosis

Inhaling, ingesting, or handling sewage could put you at risk of various illnesses that might escalate without proper medical attention. If you accidentally touch sewage, you must watch that area of the skin with warm water and soap. 

If you start showing symptoms that include fever, abdominal pain, or vomiting, you must contact 111.

What to do when sewage spills

Do not try to clean up raw sewage yourself, even if the spill appears small and manageable. Inhaling toxins produced by sewage is as harmful as touching it, so you must keep your distance and contact a sewage spillage cleaning company immediately. If you spill occurred indoors, you should:

• Open all doors and windows to ventilate
• Use fans in the affected room to dry it out
• Dispose of any food or water items affected

However, if there is a sewage spill outside your home or workplace, like the garden, you should go indoors immediately and close all doors and windows. You must restrict access to the garden or affected area and lock your doors and windows.

Any sewage spill occurring inside or outside must be addressed immediately to avoid further damage from spreading. You should take photos of the damage for your insurance company and contact the local water company to inform them of the spill. 

You may be responsible for contacting professional sewage cleaners who can tackle the hazardous situation.

ICE Cleaning’s team of sewage spillage experts can step in and take control on your behalf. They ensure that all traces of waste and viruses are eradicated from your property and dry it effectively to guarantee no mould or water damage manifests.

If you would like to know more about their services, you can look at their website here.