Water Damage Category 3: Black Water

Black water is Category 3 water damage or “grossly contaminated.” This damage can nick your purse, and its health effects might be even costlier. It can include pathogenic, toxigenic, or other dangerous substances that might give unfavorable reactions to individuals if consumed or contacted.

Two of the most common sources are sewage leaks and floodwater runoff. Category 3 water may have harmful products such as human waste or soil. It can pose severe damage to your home and your health. Continue reading to find out what makes black water harmful.

Sewer Damage

Gasses from a sewage system leak discharge undesirable smells of poisonous and non-toxic gasses. Although not toxic, it might contain methane gas but may asphyxiate individuals and put them unconscious. Other gasses that may be present are hydrogen sulfide and ammonia; both are poisonous and might adversely impact your health. Carbon dioxide, chlorine, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide are also present in sewer gasses.

Hazardous bacteria in black water are ideal for diseases like cholera and typhoid. To guarantee your welfare is to let property restoration Broken Arrow remove the water, clean and sanitize the area, and do the necessary damage restoration.

Flood Runoff

Polluted runoff is just one of the greatest threats to clean water in the U.S. The sources could originate from rising waters from rivers and streams, rain, and seawater. It picks up everything on its way – fertilizer, pesticides, oil, dirt, and other contaminated materials. This contaminated and untreated water is drained to rivers, lakes, oceans, and even your residence.

Black water caused by floodwater can be unsafe as it carries infectious diseases, livestock and human waste, and hazardous chemicals. Floodings can be a potential source of water-borne diseases like leptospirosis, hepatitis A, cholera, and typhoid fever. It can also increase carrier-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and hemorrhagic fever.

Black Water Fallacies

One misunderstanding that makes black water even more dangerous is the mistaken idea that it can be self-cleaned. Another misconception is that it can only originate from sewer leaks within your property. Floodwater might begin as gray however it becomes black water as it picks up toxins along its path.

Protect your family by taking the proper action in taking care of black water. The only reasonable method to clean black water is to have the appropriate training, proper equipment, and cleaning agents. Only qualified restoration companies like PuroClean of Broken Arrow can address thorough purification and restorative works for your property.

Conclusion

When facing a black water problem, whether from a sewer leakage or flood runoff, do not reach for your mop and bucket and try to clean it on your own. That’s not how you tend to water damages, even lower than Category 3, such as gray or even clean water damage.

The likelihood of contamination and property damage is too high to take lightly. Even Category 1 or 2 may progress to Category 3 in a very short time if not appropriately dealt with. When dealing with water damages, always call your local restoration company.