What Is Category 3 Water Damage?

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

Cleaning a flooded home will depend on the category of the contaminated water.

Water damage, including black water, is classified into one of three categories based on the level of contamination in the water. It is important to know which category of water you are dealing with before attempting to clean a flooded building because each class comes with different risks and requirements.

Water Damage Categories

You may see water damage referred to as either clean water, grey water, or black water. These phrases refer to the three categories of water damage:

• Category 1 Water is water that does not contain any harmful contaminants.
• Category 2 Water may contain significant amounts of chemicals, physical or biological contaminants.
• Category 3 Water contains unsanitary agents, such as fungus and bacteria.

Examples of Category 3 Water

Examples of this type of water include sewage cleanup, water from streams and rivers, ground surface water, seawater, storm surge, and standing water. Category 2 water that has become stagnant or has remained standing for too long can be reclassified into this category. Toilet overflows that contain feces or originate from beyond the toilet trap are another example.

Category 3 Water Removal

The removal of this category of water requires protective gear and safety training. For this reason, it is not recommended that property owners attempt to remove the water themselves. A professional water remediation company in Bountiful, UT, has the training and equipment to safely remove the water and decontaminate the affected area. Additionally, they can evaluate affected contents to determine which items can be safely cleaned and sanitized and which should be discarded and replaced.

Some types of water can be removed safely by property owners. Other types are best left to professionals with the correct safety gear and training. If you are dealing with a black water situation, it is usually best to avoid the risk of coming into contact with contaminated water and potentially spreading contamination around your property by attempting to clean it yourself.