Understanding Water Damage - Categories of Water

3/3/2021 (Permalink)

When water damage strikes, SERVPRO of Northwest Escambia County is Here to Help. Give us a call at 850-466-3089, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When water damages affect your home or business, it is important to begin the mitigation process as soon as possible: the shorter the amount of time wet materials are left unattended, the less amount of damage caused.  Untreated water damages can lead to a host of other issues, including the potential for microbial growth, structural instability, and the development of unpleasant odors.  When SERVPRO of Northwest Escambia County responds to you water damage, one of the first things we will determine is what kind of water has affected your property.  The category of water greatly affects the clean-up and restoration process followed:

• Category 1, or “Clean Water” is water from 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 water depending upon factors such as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants.
• Category 2, or “Gray Water” has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.
• Category 3, or “Black Water” is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for category 3 water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

Each of these categories of water requires a different mitigation approach, equipment, and materials.  In order to safely and accurately remediate your property, no matter what category of water, our team undergoes substantial training, and follows guidelines set forth by industry leading organizations, including the IICRC.   Serving Cantonment, Century, and surrounding areas, SERVPRO of Northwest Escambia County is Here to Help with all categories of water damage loss.  Give us a call at 850-466-3089, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.