Protect Your Workforce from Contaminated Water Exposure

Sewage Damage Restoration in West Michigan for commercial facilities affected by sanitary line backups or contaminated flooding

Bergsma Water Restoration, LLC provides sewage damage restoration for commercial properties in West Michigan where contaminated water has entered restrooms, break rooms, storage areas, or customer-facing spaces. When a sewer line backs up or external flooding introduces blackwater into your building, the immediate risks extend beyond odor and appearance—employees, tenants, and customers are exposed to pathogens, and your liability increases with every hour the contamination remains. We respond urgently to contain affected areas, remove contaminated materials, and disinfect all surfaces that contacted sewage or floodwater classified as Category 3.


This service involves isolating the affected zone with physical barriers and negative air pressure, extracting contaminated water and solids, removing porous materials that cannot be sanitized, and applying EPA-registered disinfectants to all hard surfaces. We follow IICRC S500 standards for contaminated water and coordinate with your facility manager to ensure the work does not disrupt unaffected areas or expose additional personnel. The goal is to restore the space to a sanitary condition that allows you to reopen without ongoing health risks or lingering odors.


If your business is currently facing a sewage intrusion or contaminated water event, contact us immediately to begin containment and disinfection.

Containment, Removal, and Compliance-Driven Disinfection

You need a process that prevents cross-contamination and meets sanitation standards required for commercial occupancy. We establish containment barriers using plastic sheeting and sealed doorways, then use negative air machines with HEPA filtration to prevent airborne contaminants from migrating into clean areas. Contaminated materials such as carpet, baseboards, drywall below the waterline, and insulation are bagged and removed according to local waste disposal regulations.


After completion, you will see hard surfaces that have been disinfected and tested, flooring substructures that are dry and odor-free, and air that no longer carries the sewage smell that initially filled the space. Bergsma Water Restoration, LLC documents every step of the sanitation process, including before-and-after photos and applied disinfectant records, so you have evidence of compliance if questioned by regulators, insurers, or tenants. You will also notice that the area is ready for reconstruction without the biological hazards that were present when we arrived.



We do not reinstall flooring or repair walls—our work ends when the affected area is dry, disinfected, and cleared for your contractor to rebuild. If the contamination originated from a municipal sewer backup or external flooding, we coordinate with utility providers and document conditions for your insurance claim, but we do not perform plumbing repairs or sewer line work ourselves.

Understanding the Sewage Cleanup Process

Sewage contamination in a commercial building raises urgent questions about safety, timelines, and what can be saved. These answers clarify what happens during the restoration process.


  • What makes sewage damage different from clean water damage? Sewage contains bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants that require specialized disinfection protocols and disposal of porous materials that cannot be sanitized to safe levels.
  • How do you prevent contamination from spreading during cleanup? We seal off the affected area with plastic barriers, use negative air machines to maintain lower pressure inside the containment zone, and establish decontamination protocols for personnel and equipment exiting the space.
  • What materials will need to be removed? Any porous material that contacted sewage—carpet, padding, drywall, insulation, baseboards—must be discarded because disinfection cannot penetrate deep enough to eliminate pathogens embedded in the material.
  • How long does sewage restoration take in a commercial building? Containment and material removal typically occur within 24 to 48 hours, followed by disinfection and drying over three to five days, depending on the extent of contamination and access constraints in greater Grand Rapids and surrounding communities.
  • Will employees be able to work in unaffected areas during the process? Yes, we isolate the contaminated zone so that operations can continue in clean areas without exposure risk, though access routes and HVAC systems are evaluated to prevent cross-contamination.


If your facility has experienced a sewage backup or contaminated flooding, reach out to Bergsma Water Restoration, LLC to coordinate an immediate response that prioritizes safety and regulatory compliance.