What types of Parasites and Bacteria are found in sewage water?

Are you aware of sewage water parasites that can make you ill in East Alabama?

Sewage water contains many microorganisms coming from sanitary waste and soil. In a single quart of sewage, there can be anywhere from 100,000 to 1,000,000 microorganisms lurking around. While some of these bacterial organisms are an integral part of the decomposition phase of getting rid of waste, some of them can be disease carrying or pathogenic causing a threat to public health.

Parasitic Bacteria are single-celled organisms, that multiply in suspended matter such as sewage. The bacteria feed by taking in food right through their cell wall making it possible to reproduce quickly. The most common bacteria are fecal coliforms which live in human and animal intestines and travel through fecal discharges. Coliform bacteria require a living host or organism with an available food supply.

Pathogenic Bacteria are parasitic bacteria that manufacture toxins that cause disease in host organisms. Cholera, Typhoid Fever, dysentery and other intestinal diseases can be discharged by those who are infected. Sewage pathogens include Shigella, E. Coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Giardia Lamblia, Mycobacterium and Pseudomonas Aeroginosa. Freshwater shellfish contaminated by wastewater has resulted in several Shigellosis outbreaks. Increased discharges into wastewater due to population growth has resulted in an abundance of pathogenetic bacteria which is overwhelming the natural process of dilution and decomposition.

Saprophytic Bacteria plays an important role in sewage treatment by accelerating the decomposition of organic matter. The function of these bacteria devours dead organic waste to inorganic and organic by products. Decomposition may not occur without the presence of Saprophytic Bacteria. Once these bacteria have done their part in the decomposition process, they die.

If you experience a sewage or sewer water backup, contact Restoration 1 of East Alabama for the cleanup. Only qualified specialists wearing specialized gear can accomplish this safely.