What counts as sewage damage?
Sewage damage is any water damage where the water came from a sewer line, septic system or toilet with waste in it. Restoration standards call this Category 3, or black water. It can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites, so it is handled differently from a clean-water leak.
Sewage backups usually come up through the lowest drains in the house: basement floor drains, showers, tubs and toilets. In a home without a basement, the first sign is often a toilet or tub that will not drain, then water rising out of it.
Why sewage backs up in Charleston homes
Overloaded city sewers during heavy rain
Parts of Charleston have older combined sewers that carry both stormwater and wastewater. In a hard storm, those lines can fill faster than they drain, and the pressure pushes water back up through the lowest drains in nearby houses. Basement drains in the East End, on the West Side and in Kanawha City are common trouble spots.
Blocked or broken lateral lines
The pipe from your house to the city main is your lateral. Tree roots, grease, wipes and collapsed sections of old clay or cast-iron pipe can block it, so wastewater from your own sinks and toilets has nowhere to go but back into the house.
Septic system failures
Outside the city sewer system, in places like Sissonville and parts of Cross Lanes, a saturated drain field or a full tank can push wastewater back through floor drains and toilets, especially after several days of rain.
Is it safe to clean up sewage yourself?
For anything more than a small overflow from a toilet onto a tile floor, it is not a good idea. Sewage can carry E. coli, hepatitis A and other pathogens. The CDC and EPA both advise protective gear and disinfection for any contact with sewage, and porous materials it soaks into cannot be reliably cleaned.
Keep people and pets away from sewageKeep children, pets and anyone who is pregnant, elderly or has a weakened immune system out of the affected area until it has been cleaned and disinfected. Do not run fans in the room, which can spread contamination through the house.
How sewage cleanup and backup removal works
- Stop the sourceThe backup is stopped by shutting off water use in the house and, where needed, calling a plumber or the sewer utility to clear the line.
- Remove the sewageStanding sewage and solids are pumped and extracted into sealed containers, with the crew in protective gear.
- Contain the areaAffected rooms are closed off so contamination is not tracked into clean parts of the house.
- Remove soaked materialsCarpet, pad, drywall, insulation and other porous materials that the sewage touched are cut out and bagged for disposal.
- Clean and disinfectEvery remaining surface, including framing, concrete and subfloor, is cleaned and treated with a disinfectant.
- Dry and verifyAir movers and dehumidifiers dry the structure, and moisture readings confirm it is dry before any rebuild.
The drying step is the same water extraction and drying used after any water loss. What makes sewage jobs different is the containment, the removal of porous materials and the disinfection before drying starts.
What can be saved after a sewage backup?
| Material | Usually |
|---|---|
| Carpet and carpet pad | Removed and discarded |
| Drywall and insulation below the water line | Cut out and replaced |
| Upholstered furniture and mattresses | Discarded |
| Concrete, tile and sealed hard surfaces | Cleaned and disinfected |
| Wood framing and subfloor | Cleaned, disinfected and dried in most cases |
| Hard plastic, metal and glass items | Cleaned and disinfected |
What to do right now
- Stop using water in the house. Every flush and drain adds to the backup.
- Stay out of the water. If you must go in, wear rubber boots and gloves, and wash thoroughly afterward.
- Turn off power to the affected area if water is near outlets or appliances and you can reach the panel safely.
- Do not use a household vacuum or shop vac on sewage.
- Take photos of the water, the drain it came from and damaged belongings.
- Call us for removal and cleanup, and a plumber if the line itself is blocked.
Preventing the next backup
- Install a backwater valve on the main sewer line so city sewage cannot flow back into the house.
- Do not flush wipes, even ones labeled flushable, and keep grease out of drains.
- Have older clay or cast-iron laterals scoped with a camera, especially if trees are nearby.
- Keep a septic tank pumped on schedule and avoid parking or building on the drain field.
Preparing for heavy rain in Kanawha County covers backwater valves and other steps for the rainy months.
Sewage cleanup across Kanawha County
Sewage cleanup is part of our water damage restoration work, and it often goes hand in hand with flooded basement cleanup, since basements are where most backups surface. If materials stayed wet for a few days before cleanup started, see mold after flooding for what comes next. For every type of damage we handle, see our water, fire and mold restoration services in Kanawha County.
Call Kanawha Restoration for sewage removal and cleanup.
Sewage cleanup FAQs
How fast does sewage need to be cleaned up?
As soon as possible. Sewage keeps soaking into porous materials and spreading contamination, and mold can start growing in one to two days.
Can carpet be saved after a sewage backup?
Usually not. Carpet and pad that sewage soaked into are removed and discarded, because they cannot be reliably disinfected.
Is it safe to stay in the house during sewage cleanup?
Often yes, if the backup is limited to a basement or one area that can be closed off. Anyone at higher health risk should stay away from the affected area until it is cleaned and disinfected.
What is the difference between sewage cleanup and regular water damage cleanup?
Clean water can often be dried in place. Sewage requires containment, removal of porous materials and disinfection before drying, and the crew works in protective gear throughout.