Why Contamination Level Is Important

7/30/2021 (Permalink)

Contaminated water can cause severe damage.

When a client in Roanoke Rapids, NC, files a claim for a water loss, it's important that The procedure for dealing with damage from contaminated water is much different than cleanup from a broken pipe. One of the ways that SERVPRO outshines the competition is through matching the results of extensive pretesting with the appropriate cleaning methods for each customer's specific problem.

Types of Contamination

Clean Water

Category 1 damage is caused by clean water. There are several sources in your client's home from which clean water can originate:

• Faucet drip
• Pipe break
• Supply line leak

If the water that causes the damage in your client's home is clean and contained on only one floor, no sanitation is likely to be necessary. Water restoration specialists can just tear out ruined materials, thoroughly dry the area and rebuild.

Gray Water

Contaminated water belongs in Category 2. This type of damage is typically the result of leaks from appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines. It may also occur if a clean water leak is so extensive that it seeps from the floor of one level to the ceiling or walls beneath it. Because this water is likely to contain bacteria and other microbes, saturated materials will need to be thrown away, and all other surfaces must be disinfected.

Black Water

The third category of water contamination is black water. This occurs when the sewer backs up into your client's home or when it is flooded during a storm. Extensive sanitation methods must be used. When you choose SERVPRO as a preferred vendor, you know that the appropriate testing will be conducted both before and after cleanup to ensure that all bacteria are eradicated.

Contaminated water adds extra steps to mitigation. Specialists who take the time to verify the contamination level of the water that causes the damage to your client's home are better equipped to make the right decisions about the details of the cleanup process.