1. Protect people first
Residents, tenants and staff are moved out of the area while the crew sets up protective gear and containment.
Harambee, Milwaukee, WI · Milwaukee County
Sewage in a Harambee basement, garage or crawl space is a biohazard, not a mop-and-bucket job. Call (877) 812-4220. Cleanup technicians remove the sewage, bag the soaked materials and disinfect hard surfaces.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Sewage damage cleanup covers the liquid, the stains and the germs it leaves in flooring, walls, insulation and stored items. Porous materials that soak up sewage usually cannot be made safe and are removed.
When sewage backs up in your Harambee property, call Harambee Biohazard Cleanup Help for a crew that treats it as a Category 3 biohazard. The team removes the sewage, discards contaminated materials and disinfects the affected area in Milwaukee County with EPA-registered products.
About 58% of households in Milwaukee rent, so sewage backups often involve a landlord, a property manager and a tenant at once. Clear documentation of the cleanup helps everyone. About 84% of homes in Milwaukee were built before 1980, and older clay or cast iron sewer pipes crack and clog with roots over time.
A typical sewage & biohazard cleanup job includes:
Residents, tenants and staff are moved out of the area while the crew sets up protective gear and containment.
Crews wear respirators, gloves and suits, then place barriers and signs so people and pets stay out of the contaminated zone.
Porous items soaked by Category 3 water are removed, and the crew sorts belongings into keep and discard with the owner.
Hard surfaces and framing are cleaned and disinfected, odor is treated, and the crew checks the area before it is cleared for use.
Most sewage & biohazard cleanup jobs in Harambee, Milwaukee, WI cost between $1,500 and $10,000, based on published cost guides.
Where the sewage sits matters too. Open floors are straightforward, while crawl spaces and areas under a house are tight and slower to work.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Category 3 sewage | $7.50 - $7.50 per square foot |
| Category 3 sewage | $2,500 - $10,000 |
| Typical project | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Published span | $1,500 - $8,000 |
These ranges come from published cost guides (Bob Vila, Fixr, BioCleaners Directory, Biohazard cleanup company pricing guide) and are not a quote for Harambee. Price drivers include square footage affected, category of water, porous materials that must be removed, drying time. For a real number, call (877) 812-4220.
Yes. Raw sewage is Category 3 contamination and can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites. That is why cleanup crews wear protective gear and remove porous materials instead of just drying them.
Sewage can carry germs such as E. coli, norovirus, hepatitis A and Giardia. They spread through skin contact, splashes and hand to mouth contact. Washing well and wearing protection reduce the risk, but removal by a crew reduces it most.
Keep everyone out of the area, including pets, and stop using sinks, tubs and toilets that feed the pipe. Turn off power to wet areas only if it is safe. Then call a cleanup team and your insurer, and take photos before anything is moved.
A septic overflow is cleaned as raw sewage, both inside any affected building and on nearby ground. Contaminated soil, materials and surfaces are handled and disinfected. A septic service may also need to empty or repair the tank.
Drywall is porous and holds contamination that can spread germs and odor long after the surface looks clean. Crews usually cut out wall board that sewage touched, and often take out a margin above the wet mark to reach clean material.
Symptoms such as stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea can start within hours or take a few days. Anyone with symptoms after exposure should contact a doctor. Children, older adults and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk.
See all biohazard cleanup services in Harambee, Milwaukee, WI →
Call (877) 812-4220 any hour and describe what is on the floor.
Call (877) 812-4220