Project: Black Water Decontamination and Document Restoration

Client:  Veterans Affairs Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee

Summary:  This project consisted of the Black Water decontamination and drying of interior office space and the Hospital's JACO Certification documents. The rupture of a pressurized sewer line above the suspended ceiling and filing cabinets necessitated the remediation. Black water exposure pose serious risk to health since it may contain pathogenic organisms such as hepatitis, Salmonella, and Giardia.

The first phase of the project consisted of repairing the ruptured sewer line and isolating the contaminated area from the rest of the hospital. Impacted ceiling tile, wall board, carpeting and certain office furnishings were removed and disposed of. All remaining office items were disinfected. During the remedial activities dehumidification and air scrubbing procedures were implemented.

The Hospital's administrative documents had been saturated with sewage. The documents were removed folder by folder, page by page and catalogued. A drying/decon. room was constructed. Placed in the room were drying racks, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, heaters and an ozone machine. The documents were secured to the drying racks and all equipment was engaged. Temperature, relative humidity and ozone levels were monitored through out the process. Swab samples for E. Coli were collected by an independent third party following the decontamination process. Laboratory analysis revealed no E. Coli on any of the clearance samples collected. The documents were placed in folders and delivered back to the hospital.

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