Sewage blockage can be extremely dangerous to your health. If you are experiencing sewage backing up into your toilets, bath tubs, and showers, it is time to call your plumber. Sewage contains germs such as E. coli (causative organism for thyphoid fever), Cryptosporidium, Hepatitis A, and Shigella, so it must be cleaned up and the plumbing system repaired immediately.
Before the arrival of the Plumbers, begin to clean up the area with a solution of one cup bleach to every five gallons of water. Keep children, the elderly, and pets away from the area, and wear long pants, eyewear, gloves and boots. Wash your hands afterwards with soap and clean warm water. You can help keep sewage from backing up i.e. coming in, into your home by limiting the amount of water going down the drain.
Some of the reasons for the blockage might be: women’s pad, children’s pants, rags, toys (thrown in by children), rabbits digging hole into the chambers, etc.
It may be a clog between the shower and toilet, or the waste line may be plugged. Whatever the cause, protecting you and your family from harmful waste needs to be your first concern.
Symptoms from being exposed to sewage may include diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, chills, and vomiting. Seek medical attention right away if you experience any of these symptoms.
You must also clean all items and surfaces that were touched by the sewage, including children's toys, by using use one cup of unscented household bleach to every five gallons of water. Throw away items that cannot be washed and cleaned (such as mattresses, stuffed animals, baby toys, and wood cutting boards) and food that may have come in contact with sewage water.
If the sewage blocks the shower area, try using a k-rod. A one quarter inch k-rod that is 25 feet is the best bet. It will move more easily through the line. You may find that the shower trap gets backed up, while the toilet in the same bathroom does not. This is due to the fact that the toilet trap is typically about six inches above the floor level, whereas the typical shower drain is installed level with the floor.
Sometimes, you may be unable to clear this blockage yourself, and then call in a professional plumber. They will be able to clean up the leaked sewage thoroughly, as well as find out exactly where the clog is located. Unless you know what you are doing when you try to do your own plumbing repairs, it is generally wise to let the professionals handle it, to begin with and then you may copy their cleaning method if such re-occurs.
