1. Stop the spread
Doors are closed, vents covered and the work area is isolated so contamination stays where it started.
National Harbor, MD · Prince George's County
Wastewater has come up through a drain in National Harbor and the smell is spreading. Call (877) 812-4220 to get the sewage removed, what cannot be saved discarded and the rest sanitized.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Sewage is classed as Category 3, the most contaminated level of water, sometimes called black water. Category 3 cleanup uses personal protective equipment, sealed disposal and EPA-registered disinfectants.
When sewage backs up in your National Harbor property, call National Harbor 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 Prince George's County with EPA-registered products.
With roughly 47 inches of annual rainfall in National Harbor, saturated ground and storm runoff add pressure to sewer pipes, a common cause of basement and crawl space backups. Prince George's County carries a Relatively High river flood risk rating from FEMA, and rising water can overload sewer pipes and push wastewater back up through floor drains.
A typical sewage & biohazard cleanup job includes:
Doors are closed, vents covered and the work area is isolated so contamination stays where it started.
Sewage is removed from the floor and low areas, and debris, trash and soiled belongings are cleared out.
Porous items soaked by Category 3 water are removed, and the crew sorts belongings into keep and discard with the owner.
Odor treatment finishes the job, and the owner receives documentation of the work for insurers or property managers.
Most sewage & biohazard cleanup jobs in National Harbor, MD 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 |
|---|---|
| Most homeowners | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Typical project | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Published span | $1,500 - $8,000 |
| Category 3 sewage | $2,500 - $10,000 |
Estimates only, not a quote. Sources: Bob Vila, Fixr, BioCleaners Directory, Biohazard cleanup company pricing guide. Price drivers include square footage affected, category of water, porous materials that must be removed, drying time. Call (877) 812-4220 to talk through the job.
A very small spill on a hard floor can be handled with gloves, boots, eye protection and a disinfectant used by label directions. Anything that reached carpet, drywall or a large area needs professional cleanup, because hidden contamination is hard to see.
If sewage is still coming up, a plumber may need to stop the source. If sewage is already on the floor, a cleanup team can start containing it at once. Many property owners call both, and it does not matter much which is first. Sewer backup companies and plumbers often work one after the other on the same job.
Usually not. Carpet and padding soak up Category 3 water and cannot be reliably made safe, so they are cut out and discarded. Hard surfaces, sealed wood and items in closed containers can often be cleaned and kept.
It depends on the cause, the lease and local law. A landlord's policy may cover the building, while a renter's policy may cover belongings. If the blockage was in a public sewer main, the city or utility may be responsible for the repair.
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.
The smell comes from the contamination, so the fix is removing sewage and soaked materials first, then disinfecting and deodorizing. Air fresheners only cover it. If the odor persists, hidden material such as subfloor or insulation may still hold sewage.
Keep people and pets out, then call (877) 812-4220.
Call (877) 812-4220