Insurance and Water Contamination

2/17/2022 (Permalink)

Standing water in the bedroom after a pipe burst.

Ways of Categorizing Flood Water

When flooding strikes a home, it’s important for homeowners to have an idea of what to expect from an insurance, repair and restoration standpoint. Insurance companies generally have three different ways of categorizing flood water. Each level corresponds with how dangerous the water can be. Additionally, the varying levels help to inform both insurance companies and water restoration specialists how to best address the contaminated water problem.

How Do Insurance Companies Categorize Water

Insurance companies generally separate floodwater into three types of categories.

• Category 1 – Clean Water. This comes from a sanitary water source, such as your supply line and water heater.
• Category 2 – Grey Water. This is usually from your washing machine and dish washer.
• Category 3 – Black Water. This comes from the outside in storm and flood situations, or when a sewer line breaks.

How Dangerous Are Each of the Categories?

Category 1 water levels are not dangerous but can promote mold development if left untreated. For this reason, you want to ensure that you completely dry any flooded areas and follow a dehumidification process to discourage mold production.

Category 2 water levels can be somewhat toxic if consumed, but are not dangerous if a person is only exposed to them. The risk of mold production remains intact, however, with this kind of water.

Category 3 is for contaminated water that is toxic to the point that the rest of the house needs to be barred from the affected area. It is crucial to take the utmost precaution with category 3 water levels, so be sure to call your local water removal specialists if you are dealing with black water damage.

Even the cleanest water can make its way to unseen places and later cause mold problems. Therefore, regardless of whether your home is flooded with clean or contaminated water, you can benefit from the assistance of emergency flood damage restoration professionals in Las Vegas, NV.