Sewage Contamination in New York City Buildings Creates Exposure Hazards for Occupants

Two words that no property owner, manager or tenant in New York ever wants to hear are sewage contamination. There are a number of scenarios that can result in sewage contamination of a building, including a backed up or broken sewer line, or as a result of a flooding event that brings sewage from the outdoors into the indoors.
 
Sewage contamination can cause devastating damage to a property and create serious exposure concerns for anyone who lives or works in the building. In addition to the unpleasant nature of sewage contamination, it can also destroy building materials, furnishings, and belongings. Some nonporous materials can potentially be cleaned and disinfected, but most porous materials will need to be discarded.
 
People working or living in a building that has suffered sewage contamination can be at risk for exposure to wide range of pathogens. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and parasites. Standing water and wet materials will allow many of these organisms to multiply and the introduced moisture can result in the rapid growth of mold on many materials throughout the property. In some circumstances, there could even be potentially hazardous chemicals mixed in with the sewage.
 
“Building occupants need to be aware that they could be exposed to these pathogens and contaminants through direct contact, ingestion, or inhalation,” said Michael Berrevoets, President, VOETS, LLC. “All people could be at risk, but this is especially true for anyone with a weakened or suppressed immune system. Due to the health concerns and complications associated with properly assessing and remediating sewage contamination, property owners, managers, and tenants faced with this scenario should consult expert advice.  At VOETS our building science professionals can assess the extent of the damage, test for pathogens and contaminants, provide remediation oversight, and conduct post-clearance testing to ensure the problem has been thoroughly addressed.”
 
VOETS also recently sponsored an educational video about sewage contamination, property damage, and exposure concerns that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/XBRUJEwnVMo
 
To learn more about VOETS and their property damage or occupational, environmental, health, and safety testing and consulting services, please visit www.VOETS.nyc, email michael@VOETS.nyc, or call (212) 860-7450.
 
About Verification, Operations, and Environmental Testing Services (VOETS, LLC)
VOETS, LLC began operations in 2016 with some of the most seasoned professional indoor environmental quality consultants in the nation. They bring a proven track record of identifying and resolving a wide range of building science, industrial hygiene, and construction health and safety issues.  VOETS offers environmental compliance, indoor air quality, mold, asbestos, lead-based paint, Legionella, environmental site assessments (ESAs), training, and industrial hygiene consulting services. The company specializes in field investigations and assessments of commercial, institutional, healthcare, and residential buildings throughout New York City and the tri-state area.
 

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail