Menu
Find local help

Floods and sewage

The basement water looks clear and does not smell. Can it be treated as clean water?

Appearance is not a reliable safety test. First establish where the water came from and what it contacted. CDC notes that floodwater can carry sewage, chemicals and other hazards that are not obvious. Keep people and pets out while the source is assessed, and tell the restorer if drains backed up, water entered from outdoors or the source is uncertain. Ask how that assessment changes containment, cleaning and salvage decisions instead of choosing a plan from color or odor alone.

← More floods and sewage questions