Narrative:

We had a major drain overflow in the middle cabin on B767. I was assigned for #2 and worked in first class. When we started our initial drink service flight attendant in business class called 1L. Since 1L was taking menu orders I picked the call up. Flight attendant told me that owr lavatory is overflowing and brownish water with a smell is coming down the aisle saturating the floor for approximately 20 rows. Passengers were complaining and we needed to take immediate action. I told the matter to purser and she went to the back to investigate. In the meantime we finished the whole service in first class by 2 flight attendants. Later in the flight (assuming the half way to our destination) our first officer came out to check on the status to determine if we had to turn the plane around to ZZZ. 3 business class flight attendants came to first class and complained to the purser again how bad the situation was. The brownish water was overflowing from toilet like a river and had a smell of urine. It was wetting the floor for about 20 rows and passenger's bags are getting wet. They told her and me that it was extremely unsanitary situation and we should not be working in this environment and the passengers should not have been in it as well. Purser decided to make an announcement saying not to worry about the clear water coming out of the bathroom and not to place their bags under the seat in front of them. It seemed like the purser and cockpit crew were not taking the matter seriously. No matter how much the flight attendants in business class explained the pilots made the decision to keep going. The pilots told us that they had reported the issue to ground maintenance and cleaners would be taking all carpets out and steam cleaning the floor once we landed at our destination. We were also told that the floor would be sanitized for the returning flight. Once we arrived cleaners (about 8 of them) came on board with bunch of paper towels. They were stepping on paper towels to soak up the sewage water. They were also using a regular vacuum cleaner to suck up the water. I asked them 'is that vacuum doing anything??' they said; 'I don't know'. There were clearly no steamer vacuums being used or anyone taking up the carpet to completely sanitize the floor underneath. After approximately 30 minutes the cleaning crew decided to get off the plane. We had 4 new flight attendants join us (our original 4 including purser were deadheading). We gave a complete crew change over briefing describing our in-flight lavatory issue and how the clean up effort was handled. For the returning flight I was reassigned for #3 working in business class right aisle. We also had a new cockpit crew join us. They were also notified of the prior lavatory situation but they never came to the back to check on the status of the floor. Without further discussion we started boarding. I worked in the business class right aisle for the whole flight where the floor was still wet and sticky. Passengers were apparently told before boarding that floor was wet from unknown water source and not to put their bags on the floor and to keep their shoes on the entire flight. While serving the floor was wet and very sticky. Every time I locked the cart by stepping on the pedal my shoes slipped off the brake. Later during the flight the carpet was getting dried but it got stickier causing me to almost trip several times. I did not think that was regular potable water soaked in the carpet. If the over flowing water was sewage water I feel that it was a health issue for everybody who was on both flights. We landed safely however I feel this whole situation could have been handled differently. I think the pilots should have refused the aircraft until proper sanitation actions had been taken. Furthermore the pilots should have considered the possible health risks to themselves; flight attendants and passengers. I trust our pilot's decision but they were not listening to us. The flightattendants should have never been forced into working in such an unsanitary situation not to mention bringing valued passengers on board who may suffer from such an unclean environment. I can only hope that my company values me as an asset to this industry and will ensure my safety and health while I perform my assigned duties. I would like to know how company plans on ensuring that nothing like this ever happens again? How can they regain my confidence that I will be working in only the best possible safety and heath conditions? I need to be reassured that all of the aircraft that I work on will be completely safe and sanitized.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 Flight Attendant described working a round trip overwater flight with what could have been a toxic spill soaking the carpet.

Narrative: We had a major drain overflow in the middle cabin on B767. I was assigned for #2 and worked in first class. When we started our initial drink service Flight Attendant in business class called 1L. Since 1L was taking menu orders I picked the call up. Flight Attendant told me that OWR lavatory is overflowing and brownish water with a smell is coming down the aisle saturating the floor for approximately 20 rows. Passengers were complaining and we needed to take immediate action. I told the matter to purser and she went to the back to investigate. In the meantime we finished the whole service in first class by 2 flight attendants. Later in the flight (assuming the half way to our destination) our First Officer came out to check on the status to determine if we had to turn the plane around to ZZZ. 3 business class flight attendants came to first class and complained to the purser again how bad the situation was. The brownish water was overflowing from toilet like a river and had a smell of urine. It was wetting the floor for about 20 rows and passenger's bags are getting wet. They told her and me that it was extremely unsanitary situation and we should not be working in this environment and the passengers should not have been in it as well. Purser decided to make an announcement saying not to worry about the clear water coming out of the bathroom and not to place their bags under the seat in front of them. It seemed like the purser and cockpit crew were not taking the matter seriously. No matter how much the flight attendants in business class explained the pilots made the decision to keep going. The pilots told us that they had reported the issue to Ground Maintenance and cleaners would be taking all carpets out and steam cleaning the floor once we landed at our destination. We were also told that the floor would be sanitized for the returning flight. Once we arrived cleaners (about 8 of them) came on board with bunch of paper towels. They were stepping on paper towels to soak up the sewage water. They were also using a regular vacuum cleaner to suck up the water. I asked them 'Is that vacuum doing anything??' They said; 'I don't know'. There were clearly no steamer vacuums being used or anyone taking up the carpet to completely sanitize the floor underneath. After approximately 30 minutes the cleaning crew decided to get off the plane. We had 4 new flight attendants join us (Our original 4 including Purser were deadheading). We gave a complete crew change over briefing describing our in-flight lavatory issue and how the clean up effort was handled. For the returning flight I was reassigned for #3 working in business class right aisle. We also had a new cockpit crew join us. They were also notified of the prior lavatory situation but they never came to the back to check on the status of the floor. Without further discussion we started boarding. I worked in the business class right aisle for the whole flight where the floor was still wet and sticky. Passengers were apparently told before boarding that floor was wet from unknown water source and not to put their bags on the floor and to keep their shoes on the entire flight. While serving the floor was wet and very sticky. Every time I locked the cart by stepping on the pedal my shoes slipped off the brake. Later during the flight the carpet was getting dried but it got stickier causing me to almost trip several times. I did not think that was regular potable water soaked in the carpet. If the over flowing water was sewage water I feel that it was a health issue for everybody who was on both flights. We landed safely however I feel this whole situation could have been handled differently. I think the pilots should have refused the aircraft until proper sanitation actions had been taken. Furthermore the pilots should have considered the possible health risks to themselves; flight attendants and passengers. I trust our pilot's decision but they were not listening to us. The flightattendants should have never been forced into working in such an unsanitary situation not to mention bringing valued passengers on board who may suffer from such an unclean environment. I can only hope that my company values me as an asset to this industry and will ensure my safety and health while I perform my assigned duties. I would like to know how company plans on ensuring that nothing like this ever happens again? How can they regain my confidence that I will be working in only the best possible safety and heath conditions? I need to be reassured that all of the aircraft that I work on will be completely safe and sanitized.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.