Different categories of water damage

10/30/2020 (Permalink)

When you call SERVPRO asking for help with a water damage emergency, you'll probably have one of our office assistants ask you if you know what caused the water damage.  One of the reasons why is it's important for us to have as many details as possible, so our crews know what equipment to bring and how to handle the damage. For example, did you know there are different categories of water?  Most people only know of one.

The first.  Category 1 water is "clean" water, and is like fresh water from a supply line, for example. The second category, grey water, consists of water from dishwashers, washing
machines. The last category, commonly referred to as black water (Category 3), is the most dangerous. You can become seriously ill if you ingest this category of water. It consists
of raw sewage and pesticides. Black water consists of fungi, bacteria, and viruses. It is
imperative that you contact professionals to handle this kind of water.  We have the
proper protective equipment, training, and experience needed to safely disinfect, and treat
the affected area.