Types of Water Contamination

10/12/2020 (Permalink)

There are three categories of water damage

Water Damage Categories

Not all floods are the same. There are three different types of floodwater, each categorized by the type of contaminants present in the flood. Among the three categories, black water floods are, by far, the most dangerous. Read on if your residential property in Lemon Township, OH, has recently fallen victim to a flood.

Clean Water Floods
Category 1 floods, also known as clean water floods, are categorized by an absence of contamination. They are typically caused by a supply line burst or overflowing bathtub or shower. They are the least dangerous types of floods, but are still certainly capable of causing massive amounts of water damage if left untreated. In theory, Category 1 flood water is safe for human consumption, but you should still never attempt to drink it.

Gray Water Floods
Category 2 flood water is the next step up from a clean water flood. These floods contain some degree of contamination, although not on a lethal level. They are usually the result of overflowing household appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines. If left untreated for more than 48 hours, gray water floods can quickly turn into Category 3 floods.

Black Water Floods
Category 3 floods are the most dangerous types of floods. They are categorized by the presence of human/animal fecal matter, raw sewage, dangerous chemical and other types of biohazards. You should never attempt any type of sewage cleanup or flood remediation by yourself when it comes to these types of floods. Instead, you need to contact professional help as soon as you can.
Blackwater floods can cause catastrophic amounts of damage to your residential property if they aren't handled quickly and correctly. Attempting to handle these types of floods by yourself is extremely dangerous due to the biohazards present in the flood itself. Contact flood remediation experts immediately if your home is suffering from any of the floods listed above.