The 3 Black Water Categories

11/29/2017 (Permalink)

When a flood happens, and water damage occurs within a building in Stillwater, OK the water that remains is known as black water. This type of flood water is extremely contaminated, and it can be dangerous to those who come into contact with it.

The 3 Black Water Categories

Black water can be categorized into three different groupings that vary in terms of severity. These include:

Level I Black Water—This type of black water contamination usually originates inside of a building and only affects a small area. It does not penetrate the structure of the building, affect porous materials or exist within the area for very long. An example of this type of damage would include an overflowing toilet.

Level II Black Water—This type of black water damage also originates within a building, but the scope of the damage is significantly greater. Any drapery, carpet, drywall, and other porous materials exposed to the water must be removed.

Level III Black Water—This type of black water infiltrates a building from an outside source, like a main sewage line or a septic system. An overflowing river or stream can also create this type of black water. Generally speaking, this category of disaster is associated with more contamination over an extended period of time.

Know that regardless of the extent of the damage or where it originated, this type of water is dangerous because it can carry harmful bacteria, mold, and viruses.

Don’t Wait to Take Care of the Problem

The longer contaminated water remains in your building, the more water damage it will cause. For this reason, it is best to contact a disaster restoration professional soon after your building is infiltrated by water. Have the name and contact information of this company on-hand in a convenient location so you can reach out for help soon after a disaster occurs at your location.
Visit http://www.SERVPROstillwaterguthrie.com for more information on water damage.