Flood vs Sewage Water

10/1/2022 (Permalink)

Our approach to treating water damage in El Dorado Hills homes is dependent on which category it falls into:

Category 1 or Clean Water

Clean water is just that. Water that has come from a source that is not contaminated. Examples of this include a pipe bursting or a refrigerator supply line leak. Although clean water can cause significant damage to your El Dorado Hills home, it is not considered hazardous to human health as there are no microbes in the water. The biggest hazard clean water presents is if the area that has been damaged is not properly cleaned or dried out. This can result in organic growth – mold damage.

Category 2 or Gray Water

Gray water is water that is slightly contaminated – usually because of the nature of the source or because of neglect. Examples of this include when a washing machine overflows and a toilet overflow that contains urine. Clean water can become gray water if it left untreated for an extended period of time.

Category 3 or Black Water

Black water is highly contaminated and dangerous to human health because black water can include toxic materials such as bacterial diseases, chemicals, microbes, and more. Sewage based components such as bacteria, fungi, feces, viruses, and parasites. Category 3 situations are usually caused by sewage backups or overflows and flooding. Examples of this include bathtub back up or toilet overflow that contains feces.

Any water damage that is not treated correctly will eventually elevate to the next category. Even a simple pipe burst can turn into a biohazard and mold issue if not treated.

If you have any water damage in your home, call SERVPRO of El Dorado Hills/Placerville at 916-933-3890 for service that you can count on. We are available to assist you in El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Diamond Springs, and Placerville.