Water is considered our planet’s most precious resource.
Water is also the single leading carrier of pathogens in the world today. This potential for serious adverse health effects should never be underestimated. Water intrusion comes from a variety of sources. Wind driven rain, leaky roofs, flooding, broken pipes and sewage back ups are just a few examples of unwanted water that can lead to major damage if not mitigated quickly and correctly. Water damage mitigation is our specialty.
Water is also the leading cause of damage in some of the worst natural catastrophes North America encounters on a
regular basis: hurricanes, which account for eight of the 10 most costly catastrophes ever recorded in North
America.
Wind driven rain caused by tropical storms and hurricanes, pick up ground water containing everything from fecal matter, oil, salt water, pond water to anything else found on the ground. This is why wind driven rain can be considered Category 3 water just like sewage back up. As destructive as hurricanes are, they are not the leading cause of water intrusion and water damage in structures today. Excessive moisture also occurs in buildings because of construction defects, plumbing failures, damage from freezing and even improper maintenance.
Clearly, excessive water has the potential to cause many problems in the man-made environment. The elements necessary to support microbial growth are always present; all that is required to start a destructive chain reaction of microbial growth is the addition of excess moisture. Where abnormal moisture is present, microorganisms will rapidly multiply and cause structural deterioration, create odors, and potentially create serious health issues for building occupants. When a water loss occurs, the single most critical factor in defining the amount of potential damage is the amount of time the structure remains abnormally wet. It is for this reason that, initially, the most critical course of action in restorative drying is to act and respond quickly.
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There are three basic categories of water damage, based on the level of contamination.
Category 1 Water – Refers to a source of water that does not pose substantial threat to humans and classified as “clean water“. Examples are broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflows or appliance malfunctions that involves water supply lines.
Category 2 Water – Refers to a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants and causes discomfort or sickness when consumed or even exposed to. Known as “grey water“. This type carries microorganisms and nutrients of micro-organisms. Examples are toilet bowls with urine (no feces), sump pump failures, seepage due to hydrostatic failure and water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines.
Category 3 Water – Known as “black water” and is grossly unsanitary. This water contains unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi, causing severe discomfort or sickness. Type 3 category are contaminated water sources that affect the indoor environment. This category includes water sources from sewage, seawater, rising water from rivers or streams, storm surge, ground surface water or standing water. Category 2 Water or Grey Water that is not promptly removed from the structure and or have remained stagnant may be re classified as Category 3 Water. Toilet back flows that originates from beyond the toilet trap is considered black water contamination regardless of visible content or color. [1]
[1] Wikipedia