Discreet Sewage Cleaning Services
WE COVER ALL LONDON BOROUGHS, ALL POSTCODES AND SURROUNDING AREAS
- Open 24 hours, 7 days
- On site in under 90 minutes
- Free call-out and quote
- Fixed price in writing first
- Unmarked vehicles
- Itemised receipt with photos
What are sewage cleaning services?
Sewage cleaning services cover the safe removal of raw sewage from a home or business, followed by cleaning, disinfection and odour treatment of every affected surface, and removal of materials that can’t be saved. It’s specialist work, because sewage carries germs that cause illness, and it soaks into floors, walls and furniture that can look clean on the surface.
Emergency Cleaning 247 provides sewage cleaning services across London, 24 hours a day. Call and tell us what has happened. A real person answers, tells you how to stay safe and who to call about the cause, confirms when we’ll arrive, and gives you a fixed price in writing before any work starts.
Sewage problems we clean up
Toilet, shower or sink backflow
Sewage coming up through the lowest toilet, shower tray, bath or floor drain in the home, usually because of a blockage further down the pipe.
Overflowing manholes and gullies
Sewage spilling from a manhole or outside drain into a garden, patio, driveway or side passage.
Sewage in basements and lower-ground flats
Sewage backing up into the lowest floor of a building, especially during heavy rain or when a pump fails.
Leaking soil pipes and stacks
Waste leaking from a cracked or blocked soil pipe inside walls, ceilings or boxing, often in blocks of flats.
Sewage after flooding
Flood water mixed with sewage after heavy rain overwhelms the sewers, affecting ground floors and gardens.
Commercial kitchens and washrooms
Backups in restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels, shops and offices, often caused by grease or blocked washroom drains.
Common causes include wet wipes and fat blocking pipes, tree roots, collapsed or broken pipes, failed pumps, and sewers overwhelmed by heavy rain. A drainage contractor or Thames Water fixes the cause. We clean up the contamination.
Why sewage is a health risk
Raw sewage is known in the cleaning industry as Category 3 or “black water”, the most contaminated type of water damage. It can carry bacteria such as E. coli, viruses that cause stomach illness, parasites, and leptospirosis, which is spread in rat urine. These can be passed on through cuts, hands, food and surfaces.
The risk is highest for babies and young children, older people, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system. If anyone becomes unwell after contact with sewage, speak to a GP or call NHS 111, and mention the exposure.
Why sewage needs more than a mop and bleach
Sewage spreads on shoes, mops and cloths into clean rooms, and soaks into grout, carpet, underlay, plasterboard and timber. Bleach can’t reach contamination that has soaked in, and it can react with other products. Removing soaked materials and disinfecting what’s left is what makes the area safe again.
What to do while you wait for us
If anyone is in danger, call 999. Otherwise, these steps reduce the risk and the damage until we arrive.
✓ Do
- Keep everyone, especially children and pets, away from the sewage
- Stop using toilets, sinks, showers and appliances that drain into the blocked pipe
- Switch off electricity at the fuse box if sewage is near sockets, only if you can reach it without standing in it
- Report it to Thames Water if neighbours are affected too
- Take photos and videos before anything is cleaned
✗ Don’t
- Don’t walk through sewage or touch it without protection
- Don’t try to mop, hose or bleach it away yourself
- Don’t use fans, as they can spread contaminated droplets
- Don’t eat, drink or smoke in the affected area
- Don’t throw away damaged items before photographing them
Who is responsible for the drain or sewer?
Fixing the cause and cleaning up are separate jobs, and different people are responsible for different pipes. As a general guide:
| Where the problem is | Who is usually responsible | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| Pipes inside your home, and the drain serving only your property within your boundary | You, or your landlord if you rent | A drainage contractor or plumber |
| A pipe shared with other properties, or the drain beyond your boundary | Usually Thames Water. Most of these were transferred to water companies on 1 October 2011 | Report it to Thames Water |
| A public sewer in the street | Thames Water | Report it to Thames Water |
| Soil stacks and drains in a block of flats | Usually the freeholder or managing agent. Check your lease | Tell the managing agent |
| A private pumping station | Its owner, or Thames Water if it was eligible for transfer in 2016 | A drainage specialist or Thames Water |
Thames Water explains who owns which pipes on its private sewer ownership page. If you’re not sure, call us and we’ll help you work out who to contact first.
Our sewage cleaning process
- You call, a real person answersTell us what has happened and your postcode. We give you safety advice straight away and ask whether the cause has been fixed.
- We confirm your arrival timeAcross London we can be on site in under 90 minutes, and we confirm the time based on your postcode and the traffic.
- Assessment and written quoteWe check how far the sewage has spread, including under flooring and behind units, then give you a fixed price in writing before any work starts.
- ContainmentWe wear full protective equipment, seal off the affected area and protect clean rooms, so contamination doesn’t travel through the property.
- RemovalWe remove standing sewage, solids and contaminated debris, and bag and remove soaked materials that can’t be saved, with your agreement.
- Cleaning and disinfectionWe clean every affected surface, then apply hospital-grade disinfectant and leave it for the time it needs to work.
- Odour treatmentWe treat the smell at its source, and tell you about anything that needs drying out or replacing afterwards.
- Sign-off and receiptYou check the result before we leave, and we give you an itemised receipt with photographs for your records or claim.
What can be saved, and what has to go
We always explain what needs removing and why, and we remove nothing without your agreement. As a general guide:
| Material or item | Usually | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles, vinyl and sealed hard floors | Usually saved | Cleaned and disinfected, including grout lines and edges. |
| Carpet and underlay | Usually removed | Sewage soaks right through, and it can’t be reliably decontaminated. |
| Plasterboard and skirting below the water line | Often removed | Soaked plasterboard holds contamination and moisture, so affected sections are cut out. |
| Solid timber, doors and kitchen units | Depends | Sealed, solid items can often be cleaned. Chipboard that has swollen usually can’t. |
| Sofas, mattresses and soft furnishings | Usually removed | Sewage reaches the filling, which can’t be cleaned safely. |
| Clothes and washable fabrics | Sometimes saved | Some can be professionally laundered. Ask before washing anything at home. |
| Food, medicines, toiletries and soft toys it touched | Throw away | These can’t be made safe after contact with sewage. |
Photograph damaged items before they’re removed. Insurers and Thames Water may ask for evidence.
Can you claim from Thames Water?
If sewage from a water company’s sewer floods your property, you may be entitled to a payment under the Guaranteed Standards Scheme. According to the Consumer Council for Water, in England the payment for flooding inside your property is equal to your annual sewerage charge, with a minimum of £300 and a maximum of £2,000. For flooding on your land outside the building, it’s half your annual sewerage charge, from £150 to £1,000.
Claims must be made within three months of the incident, and payments don’t apply if the flooding was caused by your own actions or a blockage in your own drains. Our itemised receipt and photographs can support your claim. Read the details on the Consumer Council for Water’s website.
Paperwork for your insurer, landlord or claim
You get an itemised receipt of the work carried out, with before-and-after photographs on request. You can give it to your insurer, landlord, managing agent or Thames Water. We don’t deal with insurers on your behalf, and we can’t promise what they’ll cover, so check your policy and report the incident early.
How to stop sewage backing up again
- Bin wet wipes: even wipes labelled “flushable” can block pipes. Only flush toilet paper.
- Don’t pour fat, oil or grease down the sink: let it cool and put it in the bin. Commercial kitchens should keep grease traps maintained.
- Basements and lower-ground floors: ask a drainage specialist whether a non-return valve would help, and keep any pump serviced.
- Watch for warning signs: gurgling toilets, slow drains and bad smells often come before a backup.
- Report repeated flooding: if the public sewer keeps backing up, report every incident to Thames Water.
How much do sewage cleaning services cost?
Every job is different, so we quote after assessing it, and the price in your written quote is the price you pay. The call-out and quote are free.
- How far the sewage has spread, and how many rooms are affected
- The materials involved, and how much needs removing
- Whether sewage has reached under floors or behind units
- Access, parking and floor level
- How much contaminated waste must be taken away
Who we help
Homeowners and tenants
Fast help with sewage in bathrooms, kitchens, basements and gardens, and clear advice on who fixes the cause.
Landlords and managing agents
Flats and houses cleaned quickly, with photos and a receipt for your records and the freeholder.
Restaurants, pubs and hotels
Kitchens, cellars, washrooms and guest areas cleaned outside trading hours so you can reopen.
Shops and offices
Washrooms, basements and stockrooms cleaned around your opening hours.
Sewage cleaning services across London
We cover all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, 24 hours a day, and we can be on site in under 90 minutes. Local pages: Brent, Havering, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Westminster.
Central
Westminster, Camden, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, City of London, Southwark, Lambeth
North
Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Brent
East
Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking and Dagenham
South
Croydon, Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth
West
Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Richmond upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames
Sewage cleaning services: frequently asked questions
What do sewage cleaning services include?
Sewage cleaning services cover the safe removal of raw sewage, followed by cleaning, disinfection and odour treatment of every affected surface, and removal of materials that can’t be saved. It’s specialist work, because sewage carries germs that cause illness and soaks into floors, walls and furniture.
How quickly can you get to me?
Across London we can be on site in under 90 minutes, day or night. When you call, we confirm the arrival time based on your postcode and the traffic.
Is sewage dangerous?
Yes. Raw sewage, known in the industry as Category 3 or ‘black water’, can carry bacteria such as E. coli, viruses that cause stomach illness, and leptospirosis from rat urine. Avoid touching it, and keep children, older people, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system away.
Can I clean up sewage myself?
We don’t recommend it. Household products and gloves don’t give enough protection, sewage spreads easily on shoes and mops, and it soaks into materials that look clean on the surface.
Is it safe to stay in my home?
If the sewage is limited to one room that can be closed off, you can often stay in the rest of the home. If it has spread across the ground floor, or vulnerable people live there, consider staying elsewhere until it has been cleaned.
Do you unblock the drain or fix the pipe?
No. A drainage contractor or plumber clears or repairs the cause, and Thames Water deals with public sewers. We clean up once the source has stopped, and we can tell you who to call first.
Who is responsible for a sewage leak?
It depends where the problem is. Pipes serving only your property within your boundary are usually your responsibility. Shared pipes, drains beyond your boundary and public sewers are usually Thames Water’s. In flats, it’s often the freeholder or managing agent.
Can I get compensation from Thames Water?
If sewage from a water company’s sewer floods your property, you may be entitled to a payment under the Guaranteed Standards Scheme. Claims must be made within three months. It doesn’t apply if the cause was a blockage in your own drains. Our photos and receipt can support your claim.
Will my insurance cover sewage cleaning?
Many home and business policies do, but it depends on your cover. Check with your insurer and report it early. We don’t deal with insurers for you, but we give you an itemised receipt with photographs.
Will my carpet need to be thrown away?
Usually, yes. Sewage soaks through carpet into the underlay, and it can’t be reliably decontaminated. Hard, sealed floors can usually be cleaned and kept.
How long does sewage cleaning take?
It depends on how far the sewage has spread and what needs removing. A single bathroom is much quicker than a whole ground floor. We give you an estimate with your written quote.
How much does it cost?
We quote after assessing the job, and the price in your written quote is the price you pay. The size of the area, the materials affected and the amount of waste are the main factors. The call-out and quote are free.
How do I stop it happening again?
Don’t flush wet wipes, even ones labelled ‘flushable’, and don’t pour fat or oil down the sink. If your basement keeps flooding, ask a drainage specialist about a non-return valve, and report repeated sewer flooding to Thames Water.
Do you clean commercial premises?
Yes. We clean restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels, shops and offices, and we can work outside trading hours so you can reopen quickly.
Useful guidance
- Thames Water: Private sewer ownership
- Consumer Council for Water: Guaranteed standards
- GOV.UK: What to do after a flood
- NHS: Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease)
- HSE: COSHH, controlling exposure to hazardous substances
These links are for general information. They are not endorsements of Emergency Cleaning 247.
Sewage problem? Call now.
Tell us what has happened and where, and we’ll take it from there. Free quote, no call-out fee, complete discretion, 24 hours a day.