Sewage & biohazard · Emergency service
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in Cincinnati, OH
Sewage backups, contaminated floodwater and other biohazards are Category 3 losses. They need protective equipment, removal of porous materials that were touched, cleaning and disinfection of everything else, and careful drying.

Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in Cincinnati: local conditions
Partner coverage for sewage and biohazard cleanup in Cincinnati currently includes 62 ZIP codes: 45201, 45202, 45203, 45204, 45205, 45206, 45207, 45208, 45209, 45211, 45212, 45213, 45214, 45215, 45216, 45217, 45218, 45219, 45220, 45221, 45223, 45224, 45225, 45226, 45227, 45229, 45230, 45231, 45232, 45233, 45236, 45237, 45238, 45239, 45240, 45241, 45242, 45243, 45244, 45246, 45247, 45248, 45249, 45250, 45251, 45252, 45254, 45255, 45262, 45263, 45264, 45267, 45268, 45269, 45270, 45271, 45273, 45274, 45296, 45298, 45299, 45999. If your ZIP is on this list, a call connects you with a company that serves it.
Combined sewers in older neighborhoods back up during heavy rain. The river flooded low-lying areas in 1937 and 1997, and floodwalls now protect parts of the riverfront. Winter ice storms knock out power across the region and freeze pipes in homes without backup heat. Brick homes in Northside, Price Hill and Clifton often have stone foundations, clay sewer laterals and basements that seep during heavy rain.
Over-the-Rhine has one of the largest collections of 19th-century Italianate buildings in the country, and neighborhoods like Clifton, Northside and Price Hill are full of older brick homes with basements, plaster walls and aging plumbing. Many homes on steep lots have basements dug into hillsides, where one wall is below grade and prone to seepage.
Licensing in Ohio: Ohio doesn't license residential general contractors statewide. Cities and counties license them locally. The state licenses commercial HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors.
What you can expect
- One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- Fast call-back during business hours
- Serving Cincinnati, OH
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup at a glance
- Category
- Sewage & biohazard
- Emergency service
- Yes, call for fastest response
- Typical first step
- Protect people and contain the area
- Area
- Cincinnati, OH
Other risks in Cincinnati
Landslides and hillside runoff
Saturated hillsides slide during wet periods, damaging homes, roads and buried pipes.
Frozen pipes
Winter cold snaps freeze pipes in older homes.
Signs you need sewage & biohazard cleanup
- Water or waste coming up through floor drains, toilets or tubs
- A strong sewage smell in a basement or bathroom
- Floodwater that entered the home from outside
How the work is done
Protect people and contain the area, then Remove contaminated water, then Remove porous materials, then Clean and disinfect, then Verify and rebuild. See the full sewage & biohazard cleanup process.
What affects the cost
Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in Cincinnati quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of sewage & biohazard cleanup cost factors.
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup questions
Does Cincinnati help with sewer backups?
The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati runs a Sewer Backup Response Program that may help with cleanup when the backup comes from the public sewer.
Do I need a permit for repairs in Cincinnati?
Structural, plumbing and electrical repairs need permits from the City of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections.
Can I clean up a small sewage backup myself?
A small backup on a hard, non-porous floor sometimes can be with gloves, boots and disinfectant. Anything that reached carpet, drywall or other porous materials needs professional cleanup.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewage backups?
Usually only with a sewer or drain backup endorsement. Flooding from outside needs a flood policy.
Related pages
Other services in Cincinnati
Sewage & Biohazard Cleanup in nearby cities
More about water and storm damage in Cincinnati, or see sewage & biohazard cleanup nationwide.
Related services

Sewage backup cleanup
Sewage cleanup treats the water as Category 3 (grossly contaminated): crews in protective gear remove it, discard porous materials it touched, clean and disinfect hard surfaces, and dry the structure.
Learn more
Biohazard cleanup
Biohazard cleanup removes and disposes of blood, bodily fluids and other potentially infectious material, then cleans and disinfects the area so it's safe to use.
Learn more
Flood damage cleanup
Flood cleanup treats outside floodwater as contaminated: it removes water and mud, cuts out wet drywall and insulation above the waterline, sanitizes, and dries the structure.
Learn moreWater, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.
One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.
