Understanding Water Damage Lingo

6/22/2021 (Permalink)

Water form sewer system backups should be considered very dangerous. The water is grossly unsanitary and may contain bacteria and viruses that could cause serious illness. Special training and equipment is necessary to safely clean this type of contamination. SERVPRO of Putnam County has the proper training and equipment to help with these biohazard situations.

With that being said there are actually three different water types when dealing with water damages.

Category 1: "Clean Water"

This is water form 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 depending on factors such as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants

Category 2: "Gray Water"

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

Category 3: "Black Water"

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

SERVPRO of Putnam County will inspect the contaminated water to determine the type of water and then plan the appropriate response to safely restore your home or business.