Prevention of Waterborne Illnesses

There are times when flood waters, especially those from hurricanes and other natural disasters, may become contaminated from overflowing sewage systems and agricultural and industrial waste. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin contact with floodwater does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk, there is risk of disease from eating or drinking anything contaminated with floodwater.¹

To help prevent waterborne illnesses at home, you can use these practical tips:

• If there has been a backflow of sewage into your house, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup. Remove and discard contaminated household materials that cannot be disinfected, such as wall coverings, cloth, rugs and drywall.¹
• Disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces using an EPA-registered disinfectant, such as Clorox^® Regular-Bleach₂.²
  1. Wash and rinse surface with water.
  2. Mix 1/2 cup of Clorox^® Regular-Bleach₂ with CLOROMAX® in 3/4 gallon of water
     Wipe area with bleach solution and let solution stand for 10 minutes.
  3. Let air dry.

1. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/disease/facts.html
2. Clorox Master Label