Cleaning sanitising garden after overflowing drain

arthurfowler

Any ideas how I would go about sanitising my garden after an overflowing drain?

We moved in a couple of weeks ago and were de-weeding the garden and noticed a hidden drain. It was blocked and then noticed that it would overflow into the garden when the kitchen sink or washing machine was in use.

Evidently it has been overflowing for a long time before we moved in as the area around it (about 2-3 square metres) is sodden and you can pull up the weeds with no effort.

Anyway the contractor unplugged the drain, but now wondering how we sanitise the area? It is full of pebbles as a design feature, so can't just wipe it down or anything. We don't have a hose either. Pour a bucket of hot water with fairy liquid?

thanks

Lorian

I'd go for diluted Jeys Fluid in cheap sprayer (from pretty much any supermarket) - read the label, wear safety glasses blah blah.

firefox1956

Just leave it alone........
What do you think you are going to catch Aids, Bubonic Plague, Ebola ??
Panic about something more important.

arthurfowler

firefox1956 wrote: »

Just leave it alone........
What do you think you are going to catch Aids, Bubonic Plague, Ebola ??
Panic about something more important.

Whoa. Ok thanks.

Not panicking, just wondering how to clean it properly.

shaun_from_Africa

The most important thing to check is where the water is coming from.
If it's only the sink and washing machine then I wouldn't worry too much about it and a light disinfectant should be more than good enough.
It's unlikely to be the case but you should make sure that there is no foul water discharge from a toilet into the drain.
This waste should take an entirely different path to the sink drains and if it didn't, I'm sure that you would have smelt it by now but it's worth checking just to make sure.

paddy's_mum

Good old fresh air, sunshine and rainfall are all agents of natural hygiene.

Consider what happens to cowpats in meadows, seaweed on beaches, berries that fall, feathers that are moulted...Mother Nature is really quite good at cleaning up.

I_have_spoken

Best ask Wee Jock Poo-Pong McPlop!

Furts

paddy's_mum wrote: »

Good old fresh air, sunshine and rainfall are all agents of natural hygiene.

Consider what happens to cowpats in meadows, seaweed on beaches, berries that fall, feathers that are moulted...Mother Nature is really quite good at cleaning up.

I go with this and add a slightly more technical answer. Sewage works exist by introducing oxygen and microbes to digest matters. This is no different to your garden. The sludge then goes to, it depends, could be sludge drying beds, could be for compost, could be to a tip. Will you be sanitising the next bag of compost you buy, or the compost you buy from your local green waste recycling centre? This is about as risky a proposition as your garden.

Rain_Shadow

paddy's_mum wrote: »

Good old fresh air, sunshine and rainfall are all agents of natural hygiene.

Consider what happens to cowpats in meadows, seaweed on beaches, berries that fall, feathers that are moulted...Mother Nature is really quite good at cleaning up.

Not to mention whiskers on kittens and warm woollen mittens.

cyclonebri1

firefox1956 wrote: »

Just leave it alone........
What do you think you are going to catch Aids, Bubonic Plague, Ebola ??
Panic about something more important.

That's absolutely correct, let nature take it's course, your plants will be 10ft tall next year after converting the nutrients and and purifying the ground

brightontraveller

I’d nuke it then cover with 25 ft of concrete and make a 50 mile exclusions zone or Jeyes fluid and sprayer might be cheaper ....