Do You Know How Floodwaters Are Classified? | SERVPRO® of Van Nuys South

5/15/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage situations are not all created equal when it comes to the water that is involved. There are three different classifications for that water: clean water, gray water and black water. If you have an understanding of the differences in these types of water, you will then understand how to better handle the situation.

There will always be a cleanup and restoration process to go through regardless of what type of water has caused damage. The most important step to take is to get all of the moisture and damp items out of your home or building quickly, so mold will not have an opportunity to grow and flourish in its ideal environment.

<h4water">Clean Water

The description of clean water is basically what its name infers. Clean water is free of contaminants and is not the type of water that will pose an immediate threat to your health. It is generally a byproduct of:

• Broken water lines
• Malfunctioning appliances
• Toilet holding tanks
• Snow melt and rainwater

Clean water will be the easiest type of water damage to clean up after because there will be fewer microbes living in this water. But you only have a 48-hour window of opportunity, because after that time and after the water has had contact with the surfaces of a building, it becomes gray water.

<h4water">Gray Water

Water from dishwashers, aquariums, showers, etc. are examples of gray water. When gray water is involved, water damage cleanup and restoration can become a bit more serious as it is water that may pose a health risk due to it containing chemical or biological contamination.

The slight contamination in gray water means that it will need to be thoroughly treated before being safe to consume. Here, again, the 48-hour exposure time applies here as it will turn into black water if not property treated.

<h4water">Black Water

Black water is the most dangerous of the three types of water and is highly contaminated by harmful chemicals and biological matter, including floodwaters containing soil and all sewage waters.

Sewage is known to be contaminated with microbes, including bacteria, protozoans, molds, fungi and more—many of these can be harmful to humans.

Some of the diseases that can be transmitted by black water are:

• Cholera
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis
• Gastroenteritis-type illnesses

Remember to treat all floodwater like it is black water since it will pick up contaminants as it travels along its path.

These three different 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 all study 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 Van Nuys South is here to help get the situation under control and make it "Like it never even happened." Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need emergency cleanup and restoration services!