Black water damage resulting from sewage runoff can put a dent in your wallet but can be even more costly to your health. However, quickly addressing the issue by hiring an award-winning professional cleanup company like Spaulding Decon of Tampa can make the process swift and easy. The most important part of managing the presence of black water is identifying the source. Then you need to identify the possible content of the black water.
What is Black Water?
Black water refers to water contaminated by hazardous materials such as human waste or soil. It can flow into your home for multiple reasons. The two most common being sewage leaks or floodwater runoff. The contaminated water can pose serious health risks, as well as damage to your property.
Why are Sewage Leaks so Dangerous:
Toxic Gases
- Sewage gases can come with a slew of nasty hazarded gases like Methane which is a fast-acting asphyxiated which renders people unconscious and headed toward death even in small doses. Other gases like carbon dioxide, methane, chlorine, nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide are known to accompany gas links as well.
Dangerous Microorganisms
- Dangerous Microorganisms are why in the 1800s so many people would die in city centers from sewage in the water. These microorganisms cause pandemics of both typhoid and cholera. Sewage is the perfect breeding ground for diseases for humans. Removing sewage of any sort from inside your home is a must and having a professional do it is the only way to ensure you are truly safe.
Chemicals
- The different amount of chemicals that come with a sewage backup is but one of the more hidden problems with sewage backups is if you use chemical cleaners, not only are you dealing with sewage waste yourself but the chemicals are very corrosive to your pipes. If you corrode them enough you get little holes causing the sewage to drip out of the pipe, likely unseen and almost certainly causing mold which is an even harder mess to handle. To take care of your issues the right way the first time, call in the professionals.
What are the Health Risks Associated with Black Water?
The risks associated with exposure to black water are endless. For one, the human waste in black water transmits illnesses like E-coli and campylobacteriosis, both of which can result in severe illnesses of the digestive system. The bacteria also release endotoxins into the air, which can cause long-term severe respiratory illnesses if you were to be exposed. The presence of black water in your home can also result in various forms of toxic mold that go airborne when agitated.
What are common misconceptions related to black water?
One misconception, in particular, makes black water more dangerous, and that is the idea that black water and the resulting damage can be self-cleaned. It is never safe to clean black water without the proper training, protective equipment, and cleaning products. Exposure to black water without these necessary precautions can potentially result in debilitating, long-term illness. Another misconception is that black waters only source is sewage leaks within your home. Floodwaters can become black water after picking up waste on its path, making its way into your home. Always take precautions when assessing flood damages and know that you may need to have it professionally decontaminated.
Who cleans black water?
If you have had a sewage leak in your home and black water is present, immediately call a professional cleanup company specializing in biohazard remediation like Spaulding Decon of Tampa, Florida. Our professional biohazard remediation team will thoroughly decontaminate your property of any biohazard that could put your health at risk. After we finish our cleanup, our sites get tested by a third-party company to ensure there is no remaining trace of the biohazard.
Spaulding Decon
Spaulding Decon was founded in 2005 with a mission to protect families and businesses from the harm of biohazard contamination. We are established experts in the field of decontamination, servicing numerous locations around the United States. Our professionals serve communities all across the Nation. Spaulding Decon specializes in crime scene cleanup, biohazard remediation, rodent dropping cleanup, and more. For more information, give us a call at (833) 804-6600, or contact us for an estimate.