Water Removal: How Soon Can You Enter Your Basement?

Not as soon as you thought, as most experts have found out.

When flooding occurs, one of the first places most people look are their basements-or if they're truly unfortunate, their first floors. Most are eager to do start the process of water removal, anxious to save as much as they can out of their homes. Some call in expert help, while those whose fortunes have already been reduced by the flood wait until the water gets to manageable levels before they go in.

Water removal is not only difficult, but can also be an emotional task. Seeing the damage done by the flood into your home and tearing away at precious memories is difficult for any homeowners, but typical for those who have seen worse floods. Most just want to get the task over with so that they can rebuild and move on, and perhaps brace themselves for the next disaster.

But water removal has gotten more challenging, as researchers have now found out that the amount of toxic chemicals found in most people's homes during a flood are often higher than what is usually found in outside floodwaters. Even when pollution levels have already gone down in surrounding areas flood waters, chemical trapping silt washed in by the flood keeps it high inside most homes, making clean-up more dangerous and expensive.

This makes things particularly difficult for residents in flood prone areas in the Midwest, who are so used to doing the water removal themselves. Most are farmers, or own expansive gardens and lawns. As a result, they store more pesticides, chemical fertilizers and gas inside their homes, particularly their basements. Like their parents before them, they think nothing of waiting until the raging flood waters have calmed down before they wade in, calling on their children to help in the water removal. So the whole family plunges in, picking through waters tainted with chemicals such as cyanide and arsenic, assured by the EPA that chemical levels in flood waters have gone down-but not, as they are now being told, in their own homes.

The process of water removal now becomes more expensive-and more emotional, as residents are now locked out of their own homes, their houses virtual toxic wastelands. They have two choices: either wait for the water to subside and dry out, creating more damage to their homes. Or, hire a professional contractor to do the water removal process themselves. Hiring professional contractors is probably the smartest thing, as they are better equipped to deal with not only the water removal, but getting rid of the chemicals found in most people's homes. But they cost money, which is something that most homeowners stricken by the flood are losing fast.

The choices may not be good ones, but there is a middle road: prevention. By moving these chemicals to higher ground, people stand a better chance of reducing the amount of pollution seeping into their homes. Repacking chemicals in broken containers and getting rid of the ones that you no longer use are also key. Remember that most come in cans that can start eroding with prolonged exposure to water, so while it may survive this year's flood, it may not be in good shape to withstand the next one.

So next time the heavy rains come - be safe. Water removal may seem like a daunting task, but it should be dangerous.

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