The Three Categories of Water Damage

9/19/2016 (Permalink)

Flood waters can be dangerous. Call SERVPRO before entering your damaged property!

Certified Technicians at SERVPRO can Remediate any Category of Water Damage

Water damage often has serious potential to be a hazard through contact, and knowing what type of water you're dealing with is important in taking proper safety precautions and staying safe in the event of a disaster. There are three main categories of water damage, each coming with different qualities and carrying a different level of risk. Luckily, they can typically be identified by their color, visual appearance, and smell, but be sure to exercise caution regardless of what type of water it appears to be.
 
Category 1 - Clean Water
 
The least dangerous type of water damage in Agoura, clean water is exactly as the name implies: perfectly clear and visually clean. Drinking water and most water that comes out of a faucet in your home will be of this type, but it is fairly rare to deal with it during floods or heavy water damage due to the ease with which it is contaminated. Never attempt to drink any excess water from damages, even if it is visually clean. There may still be dangerous microbes within.
 
Category 2 - Gray Water
 
Gray water is much more common in cases of moderate to heavy water and flood damage than clean water. It is visually tinted with a degree of gray, brown, or another color, and may contain some larger visible particles as well. This water is not safe to drink and can infect open wounds, but is not often a high risk. In many cases, gray water may also smell foul, simply due to the materials in it. This type of water is the most common when the source of flooding or water damage comes from inside the building, but also in some storms.
 
Category 3 - Black Water
 
The most dangerous kind of water, black water is most common following heavy storms and flooding, often from a river or lake overflow. This type of water is very dangerous to drink or when in contact with an open wound, but also carries additional risk as it commonly contains sharp and heavy materials within, which can open up wounds or cause significant physical harm. Exercise extreme caution and generally avoid any black water you may encounter.
 
SERVPRO of Agoura / Calabasas / Hidden Hills is a locally-owned and operated restoration company with the experience, knowledge, and equipment to deal with water damage of all risks and sizes. Call us 24/7 at (818) 991-6292.