Dealing with Black Water After a Flood in Your Building

2/21/2020 (Permalink)

Get the help necessary to ensure a healthy restoration and you can be up and running again.

When you have water damage in your commercial building in Doylestown, PA, due to a storm flood or sewer backup, you have to be especially careful due to the possibility of contamination. Black water is among the most serious flood cleanup to deal with. It carries with it a greater need for proper cleaning and more serious risks.

What is in Black Water
Water that comes in from storm flooding or a sewer problem carries contaminants that can cause great harm and poses health risks. Anything it touches is considered as having storm damage. Here are a few of the possible threats contained in black water.

Raw Sewage and anything that may have been flushed down a toilet
Cysts
Bacteria
Industrial chemicals and fertilizers
Toxins

Black Water Cleanup
Clearly, there is no place for any of these elements inside your building. You should make sure all employees, customers, and others stay well away from the water damage. Rubber boots and special suits and gloves must be worn during storm cleanup to prevent the spread of contamination. That is why it is necessary for a water remediation and flood damage company to undertake the cleanup.

Industrial cleaners and disinfectants must be used and any porous materials, such as carpet or furnishings will likely need to be discarded.

Non-porous surfaces may be cleaned and disinfected even with flood damage, and possibly reused. Building materials such as sheetrock will likely need to be torn out and replaced. Wooden studs will need to be evaluated and may either be cleaned or may need to be torn out. Regardless of the contamination factor, the subfloor will need to be replaced.

Water damage is hard enough to deal with, even when it is a clean water flood, but when it comes from dirty water, care should be taken with the storm cleanup to ensure it is clean and disinfected. Get the help necessary to ensure a healthy restoration and you can be up and running again.