Sewage poses serious health and safety risks to humans and animals living in the home. Many Bloomington residents have left their homes in order to abandon the odor, but there are serious health risks that emerge amidst the damage.
Is it safe to stay in your home?
“Common pathogens present in sewer water include E. coli bacteria and the Hepatitis B virus. Residents should stay out of any level of a home that has raw sewage. Because internal plumbing could be clogged due to sewage backup, toilets, sinks and showers should not be used until the pipes are clear of contaminated water, and water from sinks should not be consumed for drinking or cooking,” said Public Affairs Coordinator Marianne Manko. “A restoration company that specializes in raw sewage or flooding can recommend which measures are needed before safely returning to the home.”
Sewer backup in your home produces sewer gas, which is primarily methane and hydrogen sulfide.
“Both are not an immediate risk to health unless the methane is of a concentration high enough to become combustible,” said Manko.
What should I do if there is an odor?
Odors originating from a sewer are generally caused by a dry trap.
“If all the drains have been checked and filled with water, a plumber should be called to determine the cause of the odor,” said Manko.
What are health implications that happen if methane or sewage fumes are inhaled?
Raw sewage gas can include a mixture of methane and other dangerous gasses that can cause symptoms of sewer gas poisoning.
“Early symptoms include dizziness or lightheadedness, nausea or vomiting, headaches, fatigue and poor memory or concentration,” said Manko.
County Declaration
In the city of Bloomington more than 600 calls for service came into the 911 Center from Friday evening through Saturday evening. Close to 300 were calls for Bloomington police while just under 150 were for Bloomington fire. The total number of calls is almost triple the normal average number of calls for service in the month of June. Public
“Works remains busy assessing damage throughout the city and continuing with clean up of mud and debris. Workers are also addressing the 30+ sink holes that occurred during the storms,” said Communications External Affairs Katherine Murphy in a press release.
As the County declaration stated, the storms produced, at times, up to 60 MPH winds and damaging hail as large as golf balls. This caused severe damage, including flooding that shut down major thoroughfares.
“I appreciate Chairman McIntyre making this declaration” City Manager Tim Gleason said, “the city continues to track expenses tied to the storms and the subsequent damage.”
