What Are The 3 Types Of Water Contamination?

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

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Have you had water damage in the past? In a water damage situation you not only have to act fast but it also helps to know which type of water contamination has affected your property. Knowing the cause of loss helps determine the category of the loss. Knowing the category of the loss benefits in creating the proper cleanup plan.               

Category 1

Category one is known as a clean water loss. Meaning it is not contaminated water. An example of a clean water loss is if the sink is left running and overflows. If category 1 water is left sitting for too long or it travels through insulation it can turn into a category 2 or even 3 loss. 

Category 2

Category two water is known as gray water. It is higher than category 1 due to having some levels of bacteria. A category 2 loss could be caused by a dishwasher or washing machine. With category 2 water it is necessary to sanitize and vacuum after the loss is cleaned up. 

Category 3

Category three water is grossly contaminated water. An example of a category 3 loss would be if a sewer line broke or a toilet overflowed. A category 3 loss has high bacteria and chemical levels.. Having a cat 3 loss on your property means that everything the water came in contact with needs to be removed. A category 3 loss must be sanitized and vacuumed.