Categories of Water Damage

5/7/2020 (Permalink)

Not all water damage is the same

Not all water is the same when it comes to water damage in the home or office. Water and moister can have a significant effect on drywall, plaster, weakening beams and supports, rusting metal surfaces and more if untreated. SERVPRO of East Riverside is professionally trained to meet IICRC standards to properly assess and devise the best plan for restoration of any category of water damage.

Category 1 – Clean Water

As it's name states, this category is from a clean source such as faucets, toilet tanks or drinking fountains. This is the lowest and easiest type to deal with by drying out any affected material. If untreated category 1 water can quickly downgrade.

Category 2 – Gray Water

Grey water has a level of contaminates that can cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Sources of grey water include washing machine, flush from sink drains and toilet overflow with some urine but does not contain feces. Clean up from gray water requires additional steps which may include containment of the affected area and removal of materials that presents moisture or damage. Category 2 can downgrade to Category 3 if left untreated.

Category 3 – Black Water

As the name suggests, black water is the worst classification and is grossly contaminated. This water can cause severe illness or death if ingested. Sources of black water include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with feces and stagnant liquid that has begun to support bacterial growth. Black water should always be avoided. Never try to clean up black water on your own as it can cause severe illness! Clean up from Category 3 water requires a measure of safety precautions for all those involved. This includes containment of  the affected area as well as hazmat suits to protect the technicians removing contaminated materials. Black water therefore is the hardest to deal with and the most costly.