Categories of Water Damage

4/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Albany and Americus has the equipment, experience, and expertise to handle water damages of all categories, and all sizes!

When it comes to mitigating water damages, one of the most important steps that the professionals at SERVPRO of Albany and Americus take is to identify the category, or type, of water that has caused the damage.  This categorization helps to define the procedure that will be followed for the mitigation and restoration process, the equipment needed, and the various techniques that may be utilized throughout the course of the job.  There are three categories of water that we consider in this process:

• 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. Handling damages caused by category 3 water requires the use of PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment, to perform the mitigation safely.

In order to limit the amount of damage sustained by your home or business after a water loss, SERVPRO of Albany and Americus offer 24 hour a day, 7 day a week emergency response.  Serving communities throughout Southwest Georgia, our team of IICRC trained professionals has the equipment, expertise, and experience to handle damages of all sizes, and We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!