Septic B/U in Pediatric Offices

[Guest guest]

Hi all! (sorry if you get more than 1 of this)

I've got a client/colleague working on an interesting case. Here

are the details as he knows them (and I don't know any more than is

here):

The building houses a pediatric practice offices for a group

of doctors.

A water purification system (for brine) was emptying into the

septic system.

The excess water overwhelmed the septic system.

The septic system backed up via two floor drains into the

offices.

This occurred about a month ago.

The landlord was unaware of this.

Cleaning, etc. is as yet unknown.

The doctors recently have vacated the offices.

There are no odors present

Moisture readings in the carpets and lower wallboards are

normal to very slightly elevated.

The landlord's insurance company wants to know if the space is

"safe" to reoccupy and whether the doctors had cause to vacate

it.

As I said, that's all I know. Interesting, isn't it? I can

understand that the doctors might have been concerned regarding

their young patients. Some of them may in fact be

immuno-compromised and they likely crawl around on the floor and

have much hand to mouth behavior.

Here are the questions my client/colleague hopes I can help them

understand:

Is sampling even warranted? A testing hypothesis might be

that the porous materials no longer harbor bacteria from the

septic system (black water) back-up.

If sampling for bacteria, what data quality objectives (DQOs

or standards) would we use? I could imagine that the doctors

might only accept absence of bacteria below a very minimal level

(perhaps even non-detect for certain ones) as our criteria to

re-occupy the offices (DQO).

Should the porous materials (carpets and lower wallboards) be

removed and replaced regardless? Similarly to many mold cases,

do we not even need any sample data to decide or justify

removal/replacement of the materials?

My client/colleague needs information and suggested direction by Wed

PM and I will be out in the field all AM. Thanks for any insights

folks!

Be well,

-

-- Klane, M.S.Ed., CIH, CHMM, CET

Klane's Education Information Training Hub, LLC (KEITH)

491 Norridgewock Rd.

Fairfield, ME 04937-3116

P: 207-453-KEITH (5348)

jonathan@...

www.trainerman.com

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