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Raw sewage is untreated liquid waste from homes, businesses, and industrial processes that can contain harmful pathogens and contaminants. It can cause illnesses like gastroenteritis, Weil’s disease, and occupational asthma. Exposure is possible for those in certain occupations or due to malfunctions in sewage systems.
Raw sewage is wastewater that has not been treated. It comes from residential properties, such as houses and apartments, as well as commercial buildings and industrial and agricultural processes. Essentially, it’s liquid waste that comes from homes and businesses. Unsurprisingly, it can contain a wide variety of contaminants and present a health risk if left untreated where humans or animals may come into contact with it. For example, wastewater can overflow from a sanitary sewer after a period of very heavy rainfall.
Raw sewage often contains urine and feces from toilet flushes and other types of human waste; it can also hold things like toilet paper and wipes. Sometimes tampons and other feminine sanitary products are also found. In this case, it is often referred to as blackwater. However, the flush toilet is not solely responsible for creating wastewater. It can also be the result of drainage from industrial sites, runoff from sewage treatment plants, wash water and rainwater runoff from roofs.
Sometimes, dirty sewage drains into watersheds. When that happens, the environment is just as at risk as people. Pathogens in wastewater can contaminate ecological systems as well as make humans and animals ill. Raw sewage typically contains viruses and bacteria as well as microorganisms that are harmful to health. For example, this type of waste is known to contain E.coli and hepatitis A; cholera is another well-known pathogen in raw sewage.
In addition to being exposed to bacteria and viruses, a person exposed to sewage can develop a variety of illnesses, including gastroenteritis, which is characterized by diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Weil’s disease, sometimes fatal, is another common problem, causing flu-like symptoms and can lead to liver and kidney damage. Occupational asthma, caused by the inhalation of certain organisms, is another exposure risk. The skin and eyes are also not immune, as infections can develop here too.
Most people who have adequate, modern plumbing are not in a very high risk of coming into contact with dirty sewage, unless there is a malfunction, leak or overflow of normally reliable sewage systems. However, there are some occupations that make exposure possible or even probable. For example, people tasked with inspecting, maintaining or repairing sewers may be exposed to them. Water company employees, some agricultural workers, sludge tankers, and those tasked with maintaining aircraft sewage compartments are also at risk of exposure. Of course, plumbers are exposed to raw sewage frequently, sometimes on a daily basis.
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