Understanding Flood Water Contamination After Damage

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

In the past few years, Arizona has seen extreme weather drop remarkable amounts of water in a short period of time. Such storms can overwhelm sewer and drain systems and overflow reservoirs created to hold rainwater. Besides the damage caused by substantial flooding, there is the challenge of contaminated water. Working with a water remediation specialist like SERVPRO can help alleviate any concerns regarding water issues.

Flood damage in Phoenix

Flood damage in Phoenix from storms brings the potential threat of contaminated water to homes and businesses. Soil is the most common contaminant, but other sources include something as simple as the water a flood pushes back through a washing machine, dishwasher, or garbage disposal. Of course, an overwhelmed sewage system can lead to more substantial water removal challenges, and may even require biohazard remediation. The additional risk to a home increases the cost of cleanup and makes the remediation and restoration services SERVPRO provides more critical than if the water was clean. Our professionals will come out and assess the water threat so they know how best to approach the remediation process.

Steps for dealing with questionable water

The first step our water remediation specialists take is to lift any off the floor to get it out of the water. When contaminated water is in the carpets, sofas and other furniture have to be placed on blocks or taken out of the home. It helps water to drain from the property items, increase airflow around the items and also prevents furniture from leaving stains on floors and carpets from wood stain or fabric dye. We start to clean Items with surface contamination immediately, and then we inspect all property again to determine the right method. We prefer to use brushes to remove as much of the contaminants as possible if it does not spread it or damage the surface. It is effective on hard surfaces but less effective on upholstered furniture or delicate fabrics like heavy drapes or curtains. To remove stains, SERVPRO technicians have a very broad inventory of commercial-grade detergents and anti-microbial agents that can clean heavy soils and neutralize the health threat of any contaminants. If the amount of soil is too thick or the item has been under water for an extended amount of time, we use an immersion tank that generates sonic waves to force cleaning agents through the property item.

Remediating the effects of a flood

Remediating the effects of a flood is challenging, but SERVPRO of Phoenix has the equipment, training, and experience to help you through the procedures, even if the water is contaminated. If you need our help or simply have a question, call us at (480) 503-2090.