Water Categories: What Are They?

10/30/2017 (Permalink)

Charlottesville Residence: Know the potential health hazards that can come from a water damage.

Categories of water define the sanitation of the water that has made an intrusion into your Charlottesville home or business.  There are 3 categories of water according to the IICRC S500 Standard.  You will often hear remediation specialists refer to the 3 categories as: Cat 1, Cat 2, and Cat 3 for short. 

Category 1 is the cleanest of the 3 and does not cause serious threat to inhabitants.  Here are some examples of sources for Cat 1 water:  a busted water heater tank, an ice maker line, and falling rainwater (Emphasis on falling.  Read our blog titled Water Categories: How Are They Determined to find out why).

Category 2 contains considerable contamination and has the potential to cause health concerns if someone were to come in contact with or consume it.  The following are examples of sources containing Cat 2 water:  a fish tank, a washing machine overflowing, or an overflow from a toilet bowl on the room side of the trap with some urine present but no feces.

Category 3 is grossly contaminated and can cause rather hazardous health concerns to someone that may come in contact with or consume it.  Examples of this would be:  a sewage back up, or flood water.

If you have a water damage in the Charlottesville area, give us a call 434-977-5850.  We are Here to Help.