Flooded brewery, save the fermenter?

[MoonBrewer]

So our garage and my brewery flooded in hurricane Harvey, about 2 feet of water for 2 days. Finally getting back into the house and rebuilding the brewery.

I have tossed everything that is not stainless, but have a Speidel 30l plastic fermenter that was happily bubbling away on it's inaugural batch (a lovely Belgian tripel) when the flood hit. It floated around in the chamber and about half of the brew leaked out through the airlock. It does not _appear_ that flood water got inside the vessel.

Curious what you guys think - salvage it or toss it ? After a long PBW soak it looks and smells clean. But I'd hate to chance a long brew day's work over a $60 piece of hardware.

 

[Metalhead_brewer]

I don't think you should trhow it away as long as it doesn't have any scratches in the inside and is clean you'll be fine and ready to make that delicious Belgian tripel again.

 

[swampbrewcrew]

I don’t think it will hurt anything unless there is scratching on the inside. Floodwater is some nasty stuff though. I’ve been through a couple more than I care to count.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Get new rubber gaskets and maybe use this as an opportunity to upgrade to the chrome valve! I've been through a Texas flood or 2, thankfully never to the extent you experienced. I hope the restoration goes smoothly! [emoji482]

 

[day_trippr]

Bleach-bomb it with a triple-strength mix. And I agree with replacing any soft parts.
I'd have no issues using it after that...

Cheers!

 

[Miraculix]

How can it float around and loosing almost 50% of its content without letting flood water inside? How can you be sure?

Flood water is highly contaminated with e coli and worse bacteria from the sewage system and rotting animal corpses.

I think the risk is way too high. Dump it.

Edit:Sry, just realised that you were talking about the fermenter, not the beer. I agree with the others, bleech bomb for two times and replace everything that can be replaced (tap, lock, rubber, etc).

 

[MoonBrewer]

Thanks for all the replies. Unanimous support for a good cleaning and new gaskets! This is also my excuse to grab some of the Norcal stainless upgrades.

I'll report back in a few months if I have any issues with next ferment. #HarveysRevenge

 

[madscientist451]

Use the sewage soaked fermenter exclusively for an American light lager and call the beer a Bud Light clone. No one will know.