Clear water vs black water

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

Remember, every water loss is different but it's no challenge for our techs or our highly advanced equipment. We have seen it all and done it all!

All water is not created equal when it comes to water damage. There are three different classifications of water: clean, gray and black. When you learn about the differences in these types of water, it will help you better understand how to handle the situation.

There will always be a cleanup and restoration process that will follow a water damage situation no matter what type of water has caused damage. It is important, however, to be quick about removing all of the moisture and damp items to hamper the growth of mold since moisture is its ideal environment.

What is Clean Water

Much like its name states, clean water is considered just that—clean—and is not the type to pose an immediate threat to your health. This water is free of contaminants and can come from:

• Broken water lines
• Malfunctioning appliances
• Toilet holding tanks
• Snow melt and rainwater

This type of water damage is the easiest type to work with, since you won’t be dealing with many microbes living in the water, but remember, after 48 hours and following contact with the surfaces of a building, clean water will change to gray water.

What is Gray Water

With gray water, damage cleanup and restoration can become a bit more involved and may pose a health risk as it may contain chemical or biological contamination. The slight contamination in gray water means that the water would have to be thoroughly treated before it is safe for consumption.

Gray water is water that comes from dishwashers, aquariums, showers, etc. Again, the 48-hour exposure rule applies here as well because gray water will turn into black water if not treated.