What's the best method to clean sewage spill on grass?

Sadly the human waste manhole in my garden overflowed and flooded my garden with liquid you-know-what.

It was so bad it was spilling out through my greenhouse, under my fence, out onto the pavement and driveway, then on to the street - yuck!

Luckily for everyone it's now unblocked by the water company and no longer overflowing. But how on earth do I clean the two inches of liquid poop on my lawn?

The water company is supposed to be coming back to clean it up. But just in case they never return, how would I clean it safely?

Any tips?

 

Lift the lid and hose it all into the manhole.
Try not to add too many of those leaves, as they could block it again.

Give it a couple of days and see if they come back first before doing anything.

 

Thank you Pete, that's good advice

 

I would have thought it was the responsibility of the water company to finish the job, surely it's a health hazard /risk ?

Then again I could be wrong, but if I was having get it cleared I'd go round the whole area with Jays Fluid. As this won't hurt the plants .

Twenty years ago i was troubled by dog owners thought nothing of letting their dogs deposit on my grass verge.I was told a solution of this would help and wouldn't kill plants , shrubs etc.
It worked.

 

Withold your water rates until they do. A percentage, say, 25% and write to advise them that is the case.

 

Thank you. I never thought about threatening them

 

Thanks. I'll get some Jays in case they don't do such a great job.

 

That is a good suggestion ,withholding your payments .But let's hope it don't come to that

 

Would be careful with the Jeyes Fluid as its changed formulation since @Purple Streaks mentioned she used it. Would suggest you just use it Diluted on hard surfaces, not plants.
Have a read around Jeyes site - FAQS | Jeyes Fluid

Not worth withholding your water rates as you do not want to risk your credit rating if things get escalated.

Better to regularly ring their office to say you need it clearing as they said they would, suggesting its a health hazzard might hasten their response.

We would be tempeted to get suited up and use a hose pipe with an oplen end and on low pressure you gently flow it off things, perhaps with a course broom to help move it.

 

They will probably send out a couple of blokes who normally dig holes, with big brooms and shovels a dig half your garden up.
I'd go for the Jayes fluid idea.

 

Thank you @ricky101

They eventually came to clean up in the dark with headlamps on! I kid you not.

They did a fairly good job on the grass, but they couldn't get down the side/back of the greenhouse. So I'll have that to do when things have dried out.

It's still quite wet and muddy out there, so I'll just have to leave it alone for now.

 

We had something similar happen a few years back. We drenched it with water and it recovered. The only thing I would use Jeyes for is to dip your boots in before going inside anywhere.

 

ps. If it happens again ask them to put a camera down to check for blockages. Ours happened 3 times, the first time we got Dynarod in. They cleared it but didn't find the cause. Luckily our neighbours were happy to share the cost as it affected 4 houses. In the end we found that kids had been throwing stuff down the manhole in the road. SW Water sent a stiff letter to all the houses threatening a fine and it didn't happen again.

 

I spray my grapevines with diluted jayes fluid every year they are growing better for it with less insect damage, I'm using the old original stuff that you can't get any more.
Goes back to the days of using a tar oil winter wash on fruit trees.
It was always a good remedy on brasicas for killing root aphids and to some extent club root.