Clean, Grey, and Black Water Damage

11/22/2021 (Permalink)

The proper cleanup and safety procedures associated with the different type of water contamination for that reason, call the professional.

When water damage occurs there can be different types of water. To start there are three different types of water. Clean water, greywater and black water. Knowing the difference can help when trying to remove water damage. 

“Clean” water is free of contaminants and is not the type to pose an immediate threat to your health, much like its name infers. This water can come from:

Broken water lines

Malfunctioning appliances

Toilet holding tanks

Snow melt and rainwater

Cleanup will be the easiest for damage from this type of water damage since there are fewer microbes living in the water. But after a 48-hour period and contact with the surfaces of buildings, clean water can change to category two, which is gray water. 

“Gray” water is where water damage cleanup and restoration can become a bit more complicated. It may pose a health risk due to chemical or biological contamination. That slight contamination in gray water means that it will have to be properly and thoroughly treated before safe consumption.

Gray water is a product of dishwashers, aquariums, showers, etc. Also, the 48-hour exposure time applies here as well, with gray water turning into black water if not treated.

“Black” water presents a hazard and is the most serious of the three classifications because it is considered highly contaminated by harmful chemicals and biological matter. This includes floodwaters containing soil and all sewage waters.

Sewage carries with it contamination caused by microbes, including bacteria, protozoans, molds, fungi and more—many of these can be harmful to humans.

Diseases that can be transmitted by black water are:

Cholera

Typhoid

Hepatitis

Gastroenteritis-type illness

When dealing with water damage you want to leave it up to the professionals when trying to get it cleaned up. Here at SERVPRO of Kempsville/Military Circle were always ready to help as were open 24/7 and 365 days a year.