Determining Water Loss Categotries

1/3/2019 (Permalink)

This broken hot water supply line is a good example of a Category 1 water loss.

Water losses are categorized on three levels based on the range of contamination in the water.

Category 1:  Water that originates from a sanitary source, such as a broken water supply line from a dishwasher and will not cause illness if inhaled or ingested.

Category 2: Water that originates from an unsanitary source, such as a broken aquarium and may cause discomfort or illness if ingested or contacted.

Category 3: Water that originates from an extremely unsanitary source, such as rising waters from a river or stream that can contain harmful agents if ingested. 

• Because a water loss might originate from the source as a category 1, this could quickly change when the water travels, for example through a dirty carpet and the water can deteriorate to a category 2 or 3.
• The category could also deteriorate if the water sits for a period of time in the right climate, resulting in mold growth.
• It is very important that once the source of the water is determined (for example a broken pipe or overflowing washing machine), that it is fixed by a plumber before we begin our mitigation work as the homeowner does not want to problem to reoccur.
  
  Contact the professionals at SERVPRO of North Rensselaer/South Washington Counties for our 24 hour emergency services at 518-677-3444 we will help make it “Like it never even happened.”