Three Categories of Water Damage

8/27/2019 (Permalink)

When you were little, did you ever play in puddles of water around drains or ditches? While it may have been fun, water such as this can be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and bacteria that can transmit dangerous diseases. For the same reason, caution must be used when handling water damage.

Category of Water Determines Restoration Process

Water that invades your home or business can be harmful. Did you know there are there categories of water? The type of water determines how the restoration process is preformed and what precautions need to be taken. Obviously, a sewer backup versus a leaky pipe would be handled very differently.

Category 1: "Clean Water"

This is water from a clean source, such as a broken clean water supply line or faucet. If left untreated, category 1 water can quickly degrade into category 2 or 3 water depending upon such factors as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants.

• Water from a clean source like a broken water line
• If left untreated, can degrade into category 2 or 3

Category 2: "Gray Water"

This water has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.

• May contain bacteria and viruses
• Can quickly degrade into category 3 if left untreated

Category 3: "Black Water"

This water is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for category 3 water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

• May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
• Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

Trust the Professionals at SERVPRO of Franklin County

You can rest assured that our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, to weekly training in our training center located at our office in Union, MO, you can count on our stuff being equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Our training program includes the following:

• IICRC Training
• Employee Certification Training
• Initial Franchise Training
• e-Learnings
• Continuing Education Classes
• Weekly training in our training center

If you have questions about recent water damage for your Franklin County, MO home or business, please give us a call (636) 583-5200. We are “Here to Help” 24/7, 7 days a week.