Understanding Black Water

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

Black water or sewage cleanup service is only a call away at 803-324-5780.

When you have water damage or flooding in your home in Fort Mill,SC it's important to know what type of water you are dealing with to ensure proper and safe restoration. The insurance and restoration industries separate flood water into three categories:

• Category 3: "Black water" is the most dangerous of the categories and must be treated carefully by a knowledgeable expert. This water comes from local flooding, such as from rivers or hurricanes, and also plumbing floods that include sewage. It is contaminated with pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Other chemical contaminates may also be in the water.
• Category 2:"Gray water" may have some pathogens and can still cause some health danger. A gray water flood is usually sourced from plumbing breaks with soiled water, like a clothes washer or toilet overflow without feces. Gray water can become a black water problem if exposed to the right temperatures and time.

• Category 1: "Clean water" usually comes from a clean pipe break, like a supply pipe or kitchen sink. This water damage is not harmful to humans unless it is not cleaned right away. Over time, this water would become more dangerous and be reclassified as gray or worse.

Black Water Cleaning

Black water cleaning must be meticulous. Immediate response is critical to prevent the development of mold. Once mold does develop, additional remediation efforts are needed to prevent further contamination and spread of mold in your home. Mold reproduces in just 48 hours and colonies in your water damaged home can quickly get out of control.

Cleanup of this type of water damage should also be done carefully. Protective gear is critical to protect skin, eyes and lungs from exposure. Strong knowledge on what to tear out and remove immediately is important to prevent further contamination and allow for proper drying of the remaining structure. Antimicrobials and disinfectant will be needed to remaining materials. Professional remediation specialists are beneficial in managing category 3 flood remediation due to the nature of the hazard and the importance of timely and effective removal. Visit SERVPROrockhillyorkcounty.com for more information on water damage.