When sewage backs up in a Des Moines property, the cleanup has to be done correctly from the first step. Incomplete containment, improper material disposal, or skipped sanitization steps leave biological contamination in the structural materials — creating an ongoing health risk long after the visible mess is gone.
📞 Call +1-844-499-0972 — Des Moines Sewage ResponseThe four factors that make our Des Moines Sewage Cleanup service different from a general water damage company handling a sewage call.
COS Water Damage Restoration's Des Moines sewage cleanup crew operates under IICRC S520 standard — the industry's governing protocol for Category 3 contaminated water remediation. This covers the specific containment requirements, the PPE standards that protect our crew from pathogen exposure, the material removal requirements (what can be safely dried versus what must be removed and disposed of as a regulated waste stream), and the multi-application antimicrobial sanitization protocol that must be completed before any structural drying begins.
Proper disposal is a regulatory requirement, not a premium upgrade. It's standard on every Des Moines job.
One application of sanitizer after a sewage event is not sufficient. Our protocol uses multiple applications with documented dwell times.
Our Des Moines claim coordinators handle the insurance piece. We can coordinate clearance testing when it's required.
COS Water Damage Restoration handles the complete scope of Sewage Cleanup in Des Moines — from containment and extraction through material removal, sanitization, structural drying, and rebuild. Category 3 protocols, start to finish.
Containment is established before extraction begins. This is non-negotiable on every Des Moines sewage job.
Extracting Category 3 sewage water from a Des Moines property requires specific PPE — full protective suits, respirators rated for biological hazard, and disposable boots — for every technician in the contamination zone. We use dedicated contaminated-water extraction equipment that is not shared with standard water damage jobs and is properly sanitized between uses. After extraction, all materials that contacted Category 3 water and cannot be decontaminated to a safe standard — carpet, pad, standard drywall, fiberglass insulation, and any non-cleanable surface materials — are removed as regulated waste, bagged in approved containers, and disposed of under IA biohazard material regulations.
Sanitization happens before drying equipment is staged. This sequence matters.
Category 3 sewage events leave odor-causing compounds embedded in structural materials, in the air space above the affected area, and — in HVAC systems — potentially distributed throughout the property. Our Des Moines team uses hydroxyl generator technology and botanical-based counteractant treatments to neutralize sewage odor compounds in the air and on surfaces, not mask them. For properties where HVAC ductwork may have been exposed to Category 3 contamination, duct isolation and decontamination is included in our scope evaluation.
Most IA homeowner's policies cover sewage backup events under a backup coverage rider. Our Des Moines claim coordinators are familiar with the specific documentation that backup claims require — including the distinction between backup events (covered) and sewer line failures (may require separate coverage) — and build your claim file from the first day to match what your carrier's adjuster will look for. We file the claim, coordinate the adjuster visit, and follow the settlement through. You focus on your household; we handle the insurance.
After Category 3 remediation is confirmed complete by instrument readings and — where required — by third-party clearance testing, our licensed Des Moines reconstruction team rebuilds your property: new drywall, fresh insulation, flooring, paint, trim, and any affected cabinetry or millwork. All reconstruction is performed to the same documentation standard as the remediation phase, providing a complete recovery record from sewage event to finished property that your insurance carrier and any future property transaction will find clear and complete.


Sewage events require immediate evacuation of affected areas. Our dispatcher will confirm this on the call.
Containment before contact. Source identified and addressed before cleanup proceeds.
No extraction, no material removal before the written scope is reviewed and approved by you.
Extraction, material removal, multi-phase sanitization, structural drying, and reconstruction proceed under your approved scope. Daily progress updates keep you informed. Clearance testing is coordinated where required or requested. Final sign-off at a walkthrough with your project manager. Written satisfaction guarantee on every Des Moines job.



"When our basement drain backed up in Des Moines, I didn't realize I was dealing with a sewage event until the smell made it obvious. COS Water Damage Restoration arrived within the hour, set up containment before anyone entered the space, and explained the Category 3 protocols clearly — including why certain materials had to be removed and couldn't just be dried in place. They disposed of everything properly, treated all surfaces with a sanitization protocol I could actually track through each step, and filed the insurance claim the same day. The reconstruction brought the basement back completely. I feel good about the space now, and that was not a given after the event."
"Three years later, no odor, no mold, no recurring issues. COS Water Damage Restoration did the Des Moines sewage cleanup right the first time. I'm telling every neighbor I know to call them first."
"Managing a rental property in Des Moines means sewage backups occasionally happen, and the response you choose matters enormously because you have tenant health and habitability on the line. COS Water Damage Restoration handled a Category 3 event at one of our properties with complete transparency — documented scope before work started, clear removal decisions explained in writing, and a clearance certificate at the end that we could show our tenant as proof the property was properly remediated. The insurance claim was settled without any dispute."
COS Water Damage Restoration's certified Category 3 sewage cleanup team serves Des Moines and surrounding communities throughout IA. Call +1-844-499-0972 to confirm same-day service at your address.
Sewage contamination requires certified remediation — not a general cleanup crew. Call +1-844-499-0972 and our Des Moines Category 3 team responds fast, contains the event, and remediates to the standard that protects your household.
📞 Call +1-844-499-0972 — Des Moines Sewage Response24/7 Response · IICRC S520 Certified · Category 3 Protocols · Des Moines, IA