What counts as a sewage cleanup
Sewage cleanup covers any situation where wastewater from toilets, drains, sewer lines or septic systems ends up where it should not: a basement floor drain that backs up, a toilet that overflows into the room below, a septic system that fails during heavy rain, a broken drain line under a crawlspace, or contaminated floodwater entering a building.
The water damage restoration industry's consensus standard, ANSI/IICRC S500, classifies sewage as Category 3 water. IICRC's 2026 position statement describes Category 3 water as grossly contaminated and able to contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. That classification shapes everything about how the cleanup is done.
Why sewage is handled differently from clean water
With a clean-water leak, many materials can be dried in place. With sewage, the priority is removing contamination first. IICRC's position statement says that Category 2 or 3 water calls for remediation before restorative drying, which means extracting the water, removing materials that cannot be reliably cleaned, and cleaning and disinfecting what stays before drying equipment goes in.
Drying contaminated carpet or drywall in place may stop the dampness, but it leaves the contamination behind. That is why sewage jobs usually involve more material removal than a typical water leak.
Timing matters as well. The longer sewage sits, the further it wicks into drywall, framing and subfloors, and the more likely odor and secondary damage become. Starting extraction promptly, once the source is stopped, usually limits how much has to be removed.
What to do in the first hour
- Stop using water in the building, including toilets, sinks, showers and appliances that drain.
- Call a plumber, or a septic contractor if you are on septic, to stop the source.
- Shut off power to wet areas only if you can reach the panel safely without standing in water.
- Keep people and pets out of affected rooms.
- Photograph the damage and any damaged belongings before moving them.
- Avoid turning on the HVAC system if supply or return vents are in the affected area.
Our sewage cleanup process
- Assess and protect We confirm the source has been stopped, check electrical safety, identify affected areas and set up containment to keep contamination from spreading.
- Extract Standing sewage and water are pumped and extracted from floors and low areas.
- Remove porous materials Carpet and pad, lower drywall, insulation, baseboards and other porous materials that absorbed sewage are cut out and bagged, following CDC's advice to discard porous items that cannot be disinfected.
- Clean, then disinfect Remaining surfaces such as framing, slab and subfloor are cleaned to remove soil, then treated with EPA-registered disinfectants used per label contact time.
- Dry the structure Air movers and dehumidifiers dry framing and subfloors, and we track moisture readings until materials reach dry conditions.
- Document and hand off You receive photos, moisture records and a written scope, useful for your insurer and for the contractor who will rebuild.
Health and safety around sewage
CDC notes that floodwater can contain human and livestock waste and that contact can cause wound infections, rashes, gastrointestinal illness and tetanus. It recommends rubber boots and gloves, discarding porous items that cannot be disinfected, and cleaning before disinfecting. Those same principles apply to sewage indoors.
Our crew wears protective clothing, gloves, boots and eye and respiratory protection as conditions require. We ask that children, pets, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system stay out of affected areas until the cleanup is finished.
CDC also advises washing clothing contaminated with floodwater or sewage in hot water with detergent before wearing it again. Shoes and clothing worn into the affected area should be removed before walking through the rest of the home.
Common situations we handle
Homeowners, landlords, property managers, HOAs and business owners all call us. In multifamily buildings, we can coordinate access between units and document each one separately, which helps when more than one owner or insurer is involved. For businesses, we can work nights and weekends and contain affected areas so the rest of the operation can continue where it is safe.
- Main sewer line backups into basements, laundry rooms, kitchens, showers and floor drains
- Toilet overflows that reach ceilings, light fixtures and rooms below
- Septic system failures in rural and suburban homes
- Broken drain lines that soak crawlspace soil and insulation
- Floodwater and other Category 3 water intrusions
- Restaurant, hotel, office, retail and apartment building backups, including commercial restrooms
What a plumber, septic contractor or rebuild contractor handles
We do not repair plumbing, clear sewer lines or pump septic tanks. A qualified plumber or septic contractor finds and fixes the cause, and extraction can often begin while they work. Rebuilding drywall, flooring and cabinets afterward is contractor work; Tennessee requires a state contractor license for projects of $25,000 or more. Mold that has grown beyond what the cleanup addresses is referred to a mold remediation professional.
If you rely on a private well and a septic failure or flood may have affected it, ask your local health department about well testing.
Insurance and next steps
Whether insurance responds to a sewage backup depends on your policy and the cause. Many homeowners policies treat sewer and drain backup as a separate endorsement, and flood losses are often handled under different terms again. Call your agent early, take photos and keep receipts.
We answer 615-513-5112 around the clock and serve all 41 counties of Middle Tennessee. Read more on our insurance and biohazard cleanup page, or see sewage odor removal for lingering smells after the cleanup.
Specialized sewage cleanup services
- Sewage Backup Cleanup — Cleanup after main-line and drain sewage backups, including extraction, removal of soaked materials, disinfection, drying and moisture documentation.
- Toilet Overflow Cleanup — Cleanup of toilet overflows containing waste, including ceilings and rooms below, with extraction, material removal, disinfection and drying.
- Septic Backup Cleanup — Cleanup inside homes after septic failures, including extraction, removal of soaked flooring and crawlspace materials, disinfection and drying.
- Crawlspace Sewage Cleanup — Cleanup of sewage under homes from broken drain lines, including insulation and vapor barrier removal, soil treatment, framing disinfection and drying.
- Category 3 Water Cleanup — Black water remediation after sewage, floodwater and other contaminated intrusions: extraction, porous material removal, disinfection, drying and documentation.
- Commercial Sewage Cleanup — Sewage cleanup for restaurants, hotels, offices, retail and multifamily buildings, with containment, extraction, disinfection, drying and written reports.