3 Categories of Water Contamination

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

When you have water damage in your home the category of the water can have a large affect on the restoration process. The 3 categories of contamination are based on what is in the water.  If you don’t know what category of water caused the damage call SERVPRO of San Mateo. Our highly trained professionals will be able to use our advanced technology to determine the severity of the damage.

 Category 1

Category 1 water contains no contamination. This is typically water from a faucet or pipe. This is the least common type of water damage. The reason being that the second this water passes through a material it is considered a different category. Category 1 water causes the least amount of damage and typically allows for drying in place.

Category 2

Category 2 water is water that has any contamination. This water is usually any that passed through walls, rusty/ damaged pipes, or your gutter. This is the most common type of water contamination. The severity of the water damage can differ a lot depending on many factors. It is not recommended that any remediation be handled by nonprofessionals.  Call SERVPRO of San Mateo to have our highly trained team handle the situation.

Category 3

Category 3 water is highly contaminated. This water is usual sewage water. This can be from your sink, shower, toilet, or mainline. The damage from this water is generally high. Anything the water touches needs to either be removed or sanitized. If you have any water damage that is category 3 never handle it as it has biohazards. At SERVPRO of San Mateo, we use advanced technology to remediate any odor and damage caused by category 3 water.