Classifying Types of Water in a Damage Event in Western Dutchess County

10/9/2019 (Permalink)

Let the experts in water damage restoration take care of restoring your property!

NOT all types of water cause the same damage as there are 3 classifications or categories: clean water, gray water and black water.

The 1^st step is always the same, clean up the water, dry everything out as soon as possible to avoid the threat of mold growth. The methods and procedures of the dry out are determined by the experts at SERVPRO of Western Dutchess County:

1: Clean Water

Clean water doesn’t pose an immediate threat to your health. Clean water is free of contaminants, fewer microbes and may be the result of broken water lines, toilet holding tanks, appliances and snow melt or rainwater.

However, it only takes 48 hours and contact with the surfaces of a home for clean water to become a category 2, Gray Water.

2: Gray Water

Gray water means the water damage cleanup and restoration can become a bit more serious. This water may create a health risk since it will contain degrees of chemical, viral or biological contamination. It has the potential to cause illness if contacted or consumed.

Gray water occurs from toilet bowls, sump pump failures, dishwashers, aquariums, washing machines and showers. The 48-hour exposure time applies here as well, since gray water becomes black water if not treated.

3: Black Water

Where there is black water, you now have the most serious of the three classifications, and it is considered highly or grossly contaminated by harmful chemicals, fungi and biological matter and will cause severe discomfort and illness. The sources are toilet back flows, sewage, seawater, rising water from rivers or streams, ground surface water or standing water.

It is best to treat all waters associated with water damage as black water because water picks up contaminants along its path. Consider the example of water running inside the sheet rock walls and insulation of your home.

The three classifications of floodwater are recognized by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Remediation Certification (IICRC), an organization that certifies and sets the standards for the cleaning and restoration industries. Our technicians are certified by IICRC standards and best practices in water restoration and are available to help determine the steps to take to get your home back to normal.

It doesn’t matter what type of water has caused damage to your home or business, SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County is here to help get the situation under control. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need emergency cleanup and restoration services! Call us at 845-831-3600.