Is All Flood Water Dirty?

6/25/2021 (Permalink)

Floods can happen quickly.

Why Are Floodwaters Dirty?

If you have dealt with any sort of flooding in your Dawsonville, GA, home, you may have heard the water damage cleanup crew talking about dirty water. Typically, the waters that fill a home fall into one of three categories:

• Clean
• Contaminated
• Black
  
  

As a homeowner, it can be beneficial for you to have some understanding of these different types of floodwater. Learning what makes contaminated water contaminated can help you better assess emergency situations in your house.

Category One

The first category of floodwater is often called clean. If the flood source is a broken supply line or leaky shower head, chances are the water does not have any contaminants in it. While any water can do damage to your home, anything from a clean source is easier to clean up if addressed quickly because it does not already contain spores and bacteria.

Category Two

The second category is contaminated water. Some professionals may refer to it as gray water. Floods that fit under this description contain bacteria and viruses. Often, this flooding comes from some type of appliance overflow. The water that seeps out of your dishwasher hose, for example, may have some bacteria already in it.

Category Three

The third category is called black water. This is the most contaminated flooding that can affect your home. Sewage backup and outside water often fall into this category. This type may have feces, microbes and harsh chemicals in it.

Degradation

Even if your flood starts off as clean, you need to address the water buildup as quickly as possible. Even clean water can start to degrade. As the water from your supply line runs through your walls and into your basement, it may pick up bacteria that turns it into category two water.