Sewage backup is Category 3 blackwater, which means it carries real health risk and requires a completely different protocol than a clean-water leak. This is one water damage situation where calling a trained crew immediately matters more than trying to handle it yourself.
Our Portsmouth, VA crews suit up in full PPE before entering a contaminated space, no exceptions.

We follow strict biohazard protocol on every Sewage Cleanup call, treating even a small backup with full precaution.
Sanitization on every Sewage Cleanup job meets the EPA-registered standard for Category 3 water.
We document disposal of contaminated materials to keep the process compliant and traceable.
Containment barriers go up before cleanup starts, keeping contaminated water isolated from living spaces.
Sewage cleanup follows a strict sequence built around safety, and here's how our Portsmouth, VA crews handle it.

Contaminated water is extracted using equipment dedicated to blackwater jobs, kept separate from clean-water equipment.
Crews are trained specifically in biohazard-level cleanup procedures.
We document and dispose of contaminated materials in compliance with local regulations.
Disinfection follows the same standard regardless of how small the backup appeared initially.
We treat odor as a symptom of ongoing contamination, not just a smell to mask.
Final verification checks confirm the biohazard has been fully addressed.
We ask enough to confirm this is a sewage-related call and prepare accordingly.
Our nearest available Portsmouth, VA crew heads out equipped for Category 3 response.
We assess contamination scope and provide a written estimate before cleanup begins.
Final verification protects your family or tenants, not just the paperwork.

"They treated our sewage backup like the serious situation it was, full suits and everything, not a quick mop job." — Wanda C.
"Appreciated that they explained exactly what would need to be thrown away and why, rather than just guessing." — Desmond K.
"The smell was completely gone by the time they finished, not just masked with an air freshener." — Alina M.
Yes, sewage is Category 3 blackwater and carries bacteria and pathogens that require full PPE and specialized disinfection.
Porous materials that contacted blackwater usually need to be removed and disposed of, since they can't be fully disinfected.
Compliant, registered products are standard on every sewage job.
Post-cleanup verification confirms the space is safe for reoccupation.
Often yes, especially for sudden sewer backups, though coverage varies by policy — we can help document the loss for your claim.
We recommend calling right away rather than attempting any cleanup yourself given the biohazard involved.
If your property is in or near Portsmouth, a crew can typically respond the same day.

One call gets a full PPE crew routed to Portsmouth.
Call +1-844-578-1604