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The Types of Water Damage Pollution | SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz
6/25/2018 (Permalink)
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If you’ve ever researched water damage, you’ve likely seen terms like “black water” and “clear water” to describe the severity of damages. While the implication is that clear water is less dangerous than black water, the reality is that they can both cause quite a bit of damage to your home or office.
Because every category of water damage has its own needs and considerations, we wanted to break down the different types to help you be prepared.
Category 1: The first category or “clear water” classification covers water that has originated from a clean source. This is water free from contamination, normally due to a broken pipe or supply line, a faucet leak, or rainwater that’s come directly from a rainfall. Category 1 water is not harmful if consumed.
Category 2: Grey water, or category 2, is a bit more serious. Referring to wastewater generated from daily household water sources such as appliance overflow or a “flush” from sink or shower drains, category 2 water contains contamination and can cause illness if consumed.
Category 3: This is the most dangerous category, and is commonly known as black water. This highly contaminated water originates from sewer overflows, water that has remained stagnant and leads to breeding bacteria or rising flood waters. Category 3 can cause illness or death if consumed and should be regarded with extreme caution.
Though these categories are fairly straightforward, just because something starts as a category 1 does not mean it cannot become a category 3. When the water comes into contact with surfaces, such as soil or contaminated areas, the pollution levels will change..
Additionally, any water left standing will begin to breed harmful bacteria, which is something you may not be able to determine from looks alone. This is why professional cleanup is essential to peace of mind and a properly restored property.
If your home or business has been affected by water damage from any category, SERVPRO® has a team of professionals that can help!