Categories of Water Damage

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

When your property encounters a tragedy such as water damage, it is important to call your local SERVPRO to get the water restoration process going. Untreated water damages can easily spread, creating both the potential for mold or bacteria growth and structural and contents damage. When our crew arrives at the water loss, we perform an inspection. During the inspection we determine what category of water is the particular loss. 

• Category 1: is water from a clean source, such as a 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: has a significant level of contamination. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.
• Category 3: is grossly unsanitary/contaminated and could cause severe illness or death if ingested. 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.