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Types of Water Damage

The water damage in your home or business needs to be addressed according to the type of water involved. There are various levels and severity when it comes to water damage, each one requiring its own unique approach when it comes to drying, water cleanup, and water restoration.

Water damage is basically broken down as follows:

Category 1 Water – Also known as Clean Water.  This is water that is fairly uncontaminated from the source (faucets, toilet tanks, drinking fountains, etc.) and poses little to no threat if ingested by or exposed to humans or animals.

Category 2 Water – Also known as Gray Water.  This is water that may contain some contaminants which may cause some illness or discomfort if ingested by or exposed to humans and animals. Sources of Gray Water include dishwasher and washing machine runoff, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but no feces.

Category 3 Water – Also known as Black Water.  This is water that is highly contaminated at the source and may cause serious illness or discomfort if ingested by or exposed to humans and animals.  Black Water is almost always the result of sewage backup or overflow, flooding from rivers and streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support microbial growth.

It is important to keep in mind that while none of these categories of water will improve on their own, it is possible for them to become more severe. Category 1 Water may become a Category 2 if allowed to remain standing and untreated for a given period of time (usually around 48-72 hours).

Whatever level of water damage you may be dealing with, it is imperative that you contact a qualified, competent, and certified water damage restoration provider, someone with the training, tools, and techniques to eliminate the water damage threat in your home or business.  

Each phase of water damage at the different levels can be handled if done right.  The key to handling any water intrusion incident is to act quickly.  The faster you get the professional services you need, the faster your structure can be saved from further damage and unnecessary costs.