What is “Black Water”?

9/14/2017 (Permalink)

It’s true that flooding is a major risk for homeowners all over the US, but not all floodwaters are created equal. These waters may be loaded with biological waste that poses a serious health risk – even if it’s not immediately obvious. This is what flood damage repair specialists call “black water”.

Black water is particularly dangerous because the effects can linger long after the visible liquid has dried up. Here’s what you need to know as a homeowner:

Where Does Black Water Come From?

Not all flooding involves black water, but it’s more common than you might expect.

When speaking about water damage, flood cleanup professionals use three distinct categories:

• Category 1 Water: this refers to relatively clean water that is unlikely to pose any real threat – aside from annoyance – to you or other residents. Examples could include an overflowing tub, or a leaky supply pipe underneath the sink.

• Category 2 Water: aka “gray water”, this describes water with a significant amount of microorganisms and other contaminants – enough to cause illness if consumed or sometimes even just through exposure. Examples might include discharge from your washing machine, or small amounts of groundwater leaking through the basement foundation.

• Category 3 Water: aka “black water”, this is grossly unsanitary runoff that’s heavy with contaminants. Weather-related flooding is very likely to consist of black water, as sewage systems back up and combine with overflowing rivers/streams to shift around huge amounts of organic material. Gray water that’s been allowed to stand and pool can quickly turn into black water as well.

As a rule of thumb, any water entering your home directly from the outdoors is likely to contain some level of contaminant – and could either be classified as black water, or could quickly become black water without prompt attention. Any sewage/toilet backflow would also be considered black water, regardless of its visible color/content.

How to Get Rid of Black Water

Once black water has entered your house or apartment, these microscopic contaminants will settle and linger in affected areas – walls, floors, furniture, etc. Mopping up the mess simply isn’t enough to sterilize the home.

Your best bet, by far, is to call in the professionals. Safely cleaning up black water usually requires sections of walls and flooring to be replaced, while furniture may or may not be salvageable (depending mostly on what it’s made out of, and how long the water has been present). There’s no sense in delaying – it’s dangerous to even be inside a contaminated home without protective gear.

For black water removal and flood damage repair, SERVPRO of Fontana is the name Californians trust. Contact us today at (909) 357-4337 – we’re available 24/7 for emergency cleanup services.