Sewage Cleanup Services

Emergency Sewage Cleanup Services in Chicago

A sewage backup is one of the most dangerous types of property damage. Unlike clean water from a burst pipe, sewage contains a concentrated mix of human waste, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemical contaminants that pose immediate health risks to anyone in the building. This is not a cleanup job for a mop and bucket.

APT Water Restoration provides 24/7 emergency sewage cleanup services throughout DuPage and Kane Counties. Our hazmat-certified technicians arrive fully equipped with personal protective equipment, containment materials, and industrial biocides to safely remove sewage contamination and restore your property to a safe, sanitary condition.

What Causes Sewage Backup in Chicago Homes

• Municipal sewer system overload — heavy rain overwhelms combined sewer systems and backs up into basement floor drains
• Tree root intrusion — roots penetrate and block older clay sewer pipes, common in Chicago's aging neighborhoods
• Grease and debris buildup — blockages in the main drain line between your home and the street
• Broken or collapsed sewer lateral — the pipe connecting your home to the municipal main
• Toilet and drain backup — blockages in internal drain lines cause sewage to rise through lower fixtures

The Health Risks of Sewage Exposure

Sewage is classified as Category 3 (black water) — the most hazardous water category in the IICRC S500 standard. Direct or indirect contact with sewage can transmit:

• E. coli and other bacterial infections causing severe gastrointestinal illness
• Hepatitis A virus, which spreads through fecal contamination
• Norovirus and rotavirus causing vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration
• Salmonella, Campylobacter, and other foodborne pathogens
• Parasites including Giardia and Cryptosporidium

Children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and anyone with a compromised immune system face the greatest risk. Do not enter areas with sewage backup without proper PPE.

Our Emergency Sewage Cleanup Process

1. Containment: We seal off the affected area with polyethylene barriers and establish negative air pressure to prevent contaminated particles from spreading to clean areas of your home.
2. Removal of Standing Sewage: Industrial pumps extract all standing sewage and contaminated water while our technicians in full PPE manage the process safely.
3. Material Removal: All porous materials that contacted sewage — carpet, pad, drywall, insulation, and flooring — are removed and disposed of according to biohazard protocols.
4. Pressure Washing & Scrubbing: Structural surfaces are pressure washed and scrubbed with industrial-grade biocidal cleaning agents designed for Category 3 contamination.
5. Disinfection: All surfaces receive EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant application and dwell time to eliminate biological contamination.
6. Structural Drying: Once cleaned, industrial air movers and dehumidifiers dry the structure to prevent mold growth.
7. Clearance Testing: We can coordinate with an independent industrial hygienist for post-remediation testing to verify the area is safe to re-occupy.

Sewage Cleanup and Insurance

Standard homeowners insurance does not always cover sewer backup. A separate sewer backup endorsement — often available for $40-$100/year — is required for most policies to pay for sewage cleanup. If you have this coverage, APT provides complete documentation to support your claim. If you're unsure whether you're covered, call your agent while we handle the cleanup.