Categories of water damage
Water Damage may look the same to most people, especially those who are experiencing it the first time, but there are different categories of water damage that a property may have to deal with.
Categories of Water Damage simply means the type of water that has inundated a residential or commercial structure. Apparently, it is a different case if it was just a pipe that got busted and flooded a room inside a home, as compared to a sewage backup that inundated a home bathroom with water coming from the toilet.
The Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification or IICRC explained in its official website what comprises a Category 1 Water Damage.
“Category 1 Water – That which is clean at the releasing source and does not pose a hazard if consumed by humans. Category 1 water may become progressively contaminated as it mixes with soils on or within floor coverings or building assemblies (walls, decking, subflooring). Time and temperature, which promote the growth and amplification of microorganisms in water can cause Category 1 water to degrade. Examples: burst water pipes, failed supply lines on appliances, vertically falling rainwater.”
Read the rest of the information here. http://www.iicrc.org/registrants/industry-perspective/
In one of its entries, WikiPedia meantime explained what Category #2 of Water Damage is all about. “Refers to a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants and causes discomfort or sickness when consumed or even exposed to. Known as “grey water“. This type carries micro organisms and nutrients of micro organisms. Examples are toilet bowls with urine (no feces), sump pump failures, seepage due to hydrostatic failure and water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines.” Check out the rest of the article here.
Category #3 Water Damage is meantime the worst type of water damage to inundate a home or a commerical property. It is in fact called “Black Water” because it is the most contaminated type of water that can flood a house or a place of business. Simply put, it can cause not just structural defects, but illnesses that can even be life threatening. Bacteria and Fungi abound such gross type of water and it can come from any of the following sources:
- Sewage
- Septic Tank
- Outdoor Flooding
- Toilet with Fecal Matter
- Sea, River, Lake or Stream Overflow
- Outdoor Flood Water that may inundate a building
The United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA meantime explained the type of Bacteria and Germs that contaminate murky floodwaters. “The kind and level of contamination found in flood water varies considerably from one location to another and over time. A great deal depends on the nature, size, and location of contaminant sources and the direction and volume of flood waters. During an ongoing study of water quality in the Cape Fear watershed of North Carolina from 1996 to 2000, the area was struck by Hurricanes Fran, Bonnie, and Floyd (Mallin 2002). Mallin reports that different storms had different impacts on the levels of total nitrogen, ammonium-N, Nitrate-N, total phosphorus, orthophosphate, and fecal coliform bacteria.”
Read the whole study here. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/flood-related_cleaning_report.pdf
To ensure the whole family’s safety when it comes to flood or water damage, seek professional help as water damage companies know all the safety considerations and protocols in restoring flood and water damaged properties.
San Diego Water Damage Restoration
If you recently experienced flood damage or water damage, the team at Mighty Dry is here to help. Contact us today to get started restoring your home or business.
