How flood water is classified

5/15/2019 (Permalink)

Not all water that causes damage is the same. There are three different types of water in a water damage situation, namely clean, gray and black. By having a better understanding of the differences in these types of water, you can then understand how to better handle the situation.

No matter what type of water is involved in a water damage situation, there is always going to be a cleanup and restoration process that must follow. First, and most important, is to remove all of the moisture and damp items quickly to hinder any mold growth because this is an ideal environment for mold to flourish.

This Is Clean Water

Much like its name states, clean water is just that—“clean”—and does not pose an immediate threat to your health. This water is free from contaminants and is the result of:

• Broken water lines
• Malfunctioning appliances
• Toilet holding tanks
• Snow melt and rainwater

This will be the easiest of the three types of water damage to work with, as there will be fewer microbes living in the water, but after only 48 hours and any contact with the surfaces of a building, clean water can move up to a category two water, which is gray water.

This Is Gray Water

Gray water begins to take water damage cleanup and restoration to a different level as it does become a bit more serious. This is water that could pose a health risk, due to it containing chemical or biological contamination. Because of the slight contamination in gray water, it means that it would need to be thoroughly treated before being safe to consume.

Gray water is water that can come from dishwashers, aquariums, showers, etc. Again, the 48-hour exposure time will apply here as well, as gray water will turn into black water if not treated.

This Is Black Water

Now, black water is the most serious and dangerous of the three classifications and is considered highly contaminated by harmful chemicals and biological matter. This would include floodwaters containing soil and all sewage waters.

Sewage is extremely contaminated with microbes, including bacteria, protozoans, molds, fungi and more—all of which are harmful to humans.

Some of the diseases that can be transmitted by black water are:

• Cholera
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis
• Gastroenteritis-type illnesses

Remember, when dealing with floodwater, it should be assumed that any water is black water since it picks up contaminants along its path.