Sewage is not a cleaning job. It is a biohazard event. Our certified crews isolate the area, remove what sewage touched, disinfect what remains, and verify the space is safe.
Published: October 13, 2026 | Last updated: October 13, 2026
Searching for sewage cleanup near me? You need a crew that treats sewage as what it is: a biohazard. The IICRC classifies sewage as Category 3 water, the most contaminated category. It carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can sicken healthy adults. Our sewage cleanup protocol follows biohazard standards from start to finish.
The industry sorts water into three categories. Category 1 is clean supply-line water. Category 2 is gray water from appliances. Category 3 is grossly contaminated water. It includes sewage, rising floodwater, and seawater intrusion. Category 3 carries pathogenic agents at levels that cause disease.
Here is what most homeowners miss: Category 1 and 2 water degrade into Category 3 over time. A clean pipe leak that sits for days grows bacteria and turns black.
Sewage carries organisms you cannot see and should never breathe, touch, or swallow. Know what you are dealing with.
| Pathogen group | Examples | What they cause |
|---|---|---|
| Bacteria | E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella | Gastroenteritis, skin infections, fever |
| Viruses | Hepatitis A, norovirus | Liver infection, severe vomiting and diarrhea |
| Parasites | Giardia, Cryptosporidium | Prolonged intestinal illness |
| Fungi | Mold spores in saturated material | Respiratory irritation, allergic reactions |
Exposure happens three ways: skin contact, inhalation of aerosols, and accidental ingestion. Children, elderly people, pregnant women, and anyone with a weak immune system face the highest risk. Learn more about pathogen control from the EPA guidelines on antimicrobial products.
Porous materials absorb sewage into their structure. We remove and dispose of them as biohazard waste. Non-porous materials can stay after proper disinfection.
| Discard (porous) | Sanitize (non-porous) |
|---|---|
| Carpet and carpet padding | Ceramic and porcelain tile |
| Drywall (cut 2 ft above the line) | Sealed concrete and sealed wood |
| Insulation | Metal fixtures and appliances |
| Particleboard and MDF cabinets | Solid wood framing (HEPA + antimicrobial) |
| Mattresses and upholstered furniture | Glass and mirrors |
| Cardboard, paper goods, clothing in contact | Hard plastic items |
For belongings with sentimental value, our content and furniture restoration team evaluates what specialized cleaning can save.
Our crews suit up before they touch anything. Full-body Tyvek suits, respirators, nitrile gloves, eye protection, and rubber boots. Containment barriers and HEPA scrubbers do the rest.
We also seal the work zone. Plastic containment barriers close off the affected rooms. HEPA air scrubbers run inside and create negative pressure, so air flows inward and contaminants cannot drift into clean rooms. We use dedicated extraction equipment for sewage jobs only. Nothing that touches Category 3 water ever touches a clean job.
Every job follows the same strict sequence. Skipping steps leaves pathogens behind.
We shut off water to the affected line and coordinate with a plumber. No cleanup starts while sewage still flows.
Dedicated pumps and vacuums remove standing sewage. This equipment never serves clean-water jobs.
We cut out drywall, pull carpet and pad, and bag insulation. Everything leaves the site as biohazard waste.
We scrub framing, subfloor, and concrete to remove all visible contamination before disinfection.
We apply EPA-registered antimicrobials to every exposed surface. Correct dwell time is what kills pathogens.
Air movers and dehumidifiers dry the structure. We verify moisture against the dry baseline of unaffected areas.
Hydroxyl generators neutralize odor. Then we verify the space is clean, dry, and safe.
Contaminated moisture also feeds mold within days. If growth started before we arrived, our mold remediation process runs as part of the same job.
Bleach and a mop cannot handle Category 3. Household cleaners never reach pathogens soaked into subfloors and wall cavities. Without respirators, you inhale aerosols the moment you disturb the water. Fans and mops spread contamination to clean rooms. Most insurance policies also require certified professionals for Category 3 events. A DIY attempt can void your coverage and leave your family exposed.
Sewage backing up right now? Follow our emergency steps. Stay out, stop using the plumbing, and call us. We dispatch immediately.
Standard homeowners policies usually exclude sewer and drain backup. Coverage requires a separate sewer backup endorsement, often just tens of dollars a year. Without it, you pay out of pocket. With it, the insurer covers cleanup and repairs up to your limit.
Either way, documentation decides your outcome. We photograph everything, log moisture readings, and write a detailed scope. Your adjuster gets a clean file. Typical cost ranges are in our water damage restoration cost guide. Basements take the worst of most backups, see our flooded basement cleanup page for what that recovery looks like.
No. Even a small backup carries pathogens that household cleaners cannot fully remove. Without PPE and proper disinfection, you risk infection and spread contamination. Leave it to certified crews.
Sewage carries E. coli, Salmonella, hepatitis A, norovirus, Giardia, and other pathogens. They cause gastroenteritis, skin infections, and respiratory illness through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
All porous materials that touched sewage go: carpet and pad, drywall, insulation, particleboard cabinets, mattresses, and upholstered furniture. We cut drywall at least 2 feet above the contamination line.
Standard policies usually exclude sewer backup unless you carry a sewer backup endorsement. We document the loss in detail and work directly with your adjuster to maximize your coverage.
Most residential jobs take 3 to 7 days: extraction and removal, disinfection, structural drying, and verification. Reconstruction of removed drywall and flooring adds more time.
Do not touch it. Do not wait. Certified biohazard crews dispatch 24/7.
Call (800) 555-0199
Water Cleanup