Are you faced with a sewage backup at home? Read on to learn why you should immediately contact your local water damage restoration company.
Sewage backups present a huge risk to families when they aren’t immediately addressed. They are a regular occurrence in some communities. Alarmingly, the number of sewage backup cases is increasing by about 3% in the US annually. What’s more surprising is that many homeowners will take the problem lightly and procrastinate on fixing the problem.
This guide will explain why you should never ignore a sewage backup problem.
Sewage Water Contains Bacteria and Diseases
If you don’t already know, sewage water is contaminated with any type of waste. One extremely dangerous bacterium that might be hiding in sewage backup is Escherichia coli, which is typically present in the digressive tracts of humans. While it’s harmless in that system, E. coli is known to cause serious troubles outside of the intestines. Exposure to the virus has been linked to vomiting, dehydration, severe diarrhea, and cramping.
Plus, sewage water is also known to contain hepatitis A, a severe disease that directly impacts the liver. Its symptoms include an inflamed liver, jaundice, or yellowing of the skin.
Viruses in Sewage are Easily Spread
A common misconception about sewage-related diseases is that they can only be spread through direct consumption. But according to medical experts, the bacteria present in sewage backups are transmitted in several other ways too. Hand-to-mouth contact, for instance, is among the most common ways for sewage bacteria to enter one’s body. Suppose you come into contact with bacteria but do not clean your hands properly before eating or drinking. Chances are you’ll contract a disease related to that bacteria.
Also, you can also be infected via skin contact. If a cut on your foot gets exposed to sewage, it provides an easy entry to a disease present in the contaminated water. That’s why it’s never advised to address a sewage backup on your own. Regardless of how cautious you are, there’s always a risk of infection. It’s best to leave the job to a water damage restoration professional.
Pollutes Indoor Air Quality
This will come as a surprise to most homeowners. Apart from releasing physical contaminants, sewage backup also lets off air-borne contaminants. When this happens, the air quality of your entire property can be contaminated. Inhalation of vapors released by raw sewage can cause gastroenteritis, a condition linked to cramping, vomiting, and fever.
Sewage-led air-borne contamination has also been linked to asthma. Breathing in toxins released by sewage water means your upper respiratory system won’t remain safe. Since the infected dust rises in the air during the cleaning process, which is why you should hire a specialist to do the job instead of proceeding with a DIY technique.
Contact Your Local Water Damage Restoration Company
Now that you know how detrimental sewage backups can be for you and your family, don’t ever put off the remediation work.
For emergency sewage cleanup, connect with STOP as soon as possible.
