Types of Water Damage

Category 1: Clean Water

This is defined as water that originates from a sanitary water source and does not pose substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure.

Sources of Clean Water:

Supply lines
Water heater bursts
Falling rain water
Faulty ice machine
Faulty Lines

Although the water does not pose a danger to the occupant, ESR always recommends a rapid clean up to prevent secondary damages from occurring.

Category 2: Grey Water

This is defined as water that contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. Category 2 losses can contain potentially unsafe levels of microorganisms, or nutrients for microorganisms.

Sources of Grey Water:

Washing machines & dishwashers
Toilet overflows
Drain lines
Sump pump failure

Gray water losses can pose a hazardous situation to occupants. ESR recommends only trained, certified technicians handle this type of loss.

Category 3: Black Water

is defined as water that is grossly contaminated and can contain pathogenic, toxigenic, and or other harmful agents.

Harmful Agents Including:

Infectious Hepatitis B And C
Acute respiratory trouble
Enteroviral Carditis
Gastroenteritis
Tuberculosis
Skin rashes
Tetanus

Sources of Highly Contaminated Water:

Sewage
Toilet backflows originating behind the trap
Rising river water
etc

Category 3 water can pose substantial heath risks to the occupant. ESR recommends using only technicians who have been certified and trained in how to perform this type of mitigation. In a sewage loss, there can up be to 120 different viruses and bacteria in the water.