Basement Sewage Clean-Up in Manchester | AES

A foul-water leak had flooded a basement, leaving standing sewage-contaminated water and a layer of silt across the floor. The space was also full: black waste bags, timber, packaging, building materials and general clutter, all of which had been in contact with the contamination.

That changes what the debris is. Ordinary bulky waste that has been soaked in foul water is contaminated waste, and it has to be handled, classified and disposed of on that basis rather than as clean general waste.

The work had to be done in a dark, confined basement with the correct protective equipment, and it was not finished when the debris was out: the area then had to be cleaned and sanitised before it could be handed back.

AES managed the clean-up from first attendance to final handover, appointing and overseeing the specialist operatives rather than removing or disposing of anything itself.

• Attend and assess. We attended to establish the extent of the contamination and what had to be removed, cleaned and sanitised, and planned the works around safe access to the basement.
• Appointing operatives. The works were carried out by vetted, licensed operatives we appointed, working in protective coveralls and the correct respiratory protection for a foul-water environment.
• Empty and clear. The standing foul water was removed and the contaminated debris was cleared and contained for disposal.
• Clean and sanitise. The emptied basement was cleaned down and sanitised so the area could be safely reoccupied.
• Classify and arrange disposal. We classified the contaminated waste and arranged its disposal through licensed carriers to permitted facilities. AES arranges the disposal route and does not transport or tip the waste itself.

The basement was emptied, cleaned and sanitised, and handed back ready for reinstatement. The sewage-contaminated debris was disposed of through a permitted route rather than cleared as ordinary waste.

The complete duty-of-care file went back with the job, as it does on every project: a transfer note for every movement, the classification behind each code, and confirmation of the permitted facility that received the waste.