After hurricane Irma, the Florida Department of Health had to issue advice about septic tank care and maintenance post-disaster in order to prevent further problems regarding malfunctions and other potential issues.
Having a septic system in the event of a hurricane can be tricky and many difficulties can arise from it. Chances are, during such a disaster your sewage system won’t be functioning properly and if your system runs on a dosing pump, it won’t work without electricity. Henceforth, you should try not to use water at home until the power has been restored. If you do, your tank will fill and you might end up with a backup of sewage in your property.
In this 2-part article there are a few tips that you might want follow after a heavy storm or hurricane to keep your septic tank in check.
- Sewage backups are common in these situations and it is of crucial importance to stay out of affected areas and keep children away.
- Make sure all of the areas affected by backup sewage have been disinfected and thoroughly cleaned before interacting with them again.
- Keep children and elders away from any flood waters. They could be contaminated by sewage and have a massive negative on their health.
- Avoid household water if you live in a low-lying or flood-prone area to prevent backup of sewage into your home.
- Avoid any areas overflowed with sewage and contact your utility company to inform them of any problems in your area.
- If you’re going to be cleaning your septic system use the adequate protective gear or better yet, contact and expert to help you with the issues. At Jones Septic we’re ready to attend any septic emergencies you might have 24/7.
- To clean the rest of your house, take the following precautions:
- Wear protective clothing such as rubber boots and waterproof gloves.
- Clean walls, hard-surfaced floors, and other household surfaces with soap and water and disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach in one gallon of water. Once cleanup is complete, dry out affected items to prevent the growth of mold.
- Never mix ammonia cleansers with bleach as toxic vapors will form
- Wash all linens and clothing in boiling water or dry clean them
- Get rid of any items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned, such as mattresses, carpeting, wall coverings and upholstered furniture.
