What Are the 3 Categories of Water Damage?

8/18/2020 (Permalink)

What Do These Categories Mean?

There are three standardized categories of water damage that indicate the level of repair required for your commercial building’s water pipe repair. Those three categories are known as:

Category 1: Clean water
Category 2: Gray water
Category 3: Black water

But what do these categories mean, and what do you need to know about them when you have a broken pipe or your building is flooded?

Category 1: Clean Water
“Clean water” refers to flooding that does not pose any threat to human health and safety. This type of water damage typically occurs from a broken pipe along a water supply line, an overflow from a sink or tub, or a malfunction in an appliance that is connected to a water supply line.

Category 2: Gray Water
“Gray water” is a type of flooding that contains microorganisms and is potentially harmful to humans if ingested. It often comes from water sources such as broken toilets or broken sump pumps. It is important to address water pipe repair right away in this scenario.

Category 3: Black Water
“Black water” contains harmful bacteria and fungi and is highly unsanitary. It is likely to occur from a broken pipe along a sewage line or from standing water. This means that if any flooded area is left unattended, it is likely to develop into black water even if it started out as clean water.
It can be difficult to identify the category of water damage that your building has incurred and the type of water pipe repair that it requires. Even if you only have Category 1 water damage, it is still critical getting help from your local water damage restoration experts right away, as it might develop into a much more severe issue if left stagnant for even a few hours. If your water damage is Category 2 or 3, it is even more important to address the issue right away. Luckily, SERVPRO of Bal Harbour, FL, is Faster to Any Size Disaster.