Answering this question is the first step to finding a solution to water damage cleanup in Central Maryland!

Water damage can intrude on a residential or commercial property at any time. This is water that is unintended in and near the home, but it can come from a variety of sources to cause flooding in a basement or lower level of a structure. This water can come from floodwater, rain runoff, sewage leaks or pipes bursting underground, and from water damage in general in the area of a home or business. The water coming in near the home from other areas can carry with it many forms of contaminants and microorganisms that may be a threat to human health. For this reason, it is important to identify the type of water that is making a flood event at the residence or commercial property.

First off, water damage can also occur in the event of a severe weather storm or other natural weather event. Additionally, if the weather conditions are right there can be major flooding that can affect a property, which can happen even in weather that is considerably less severe. It also may not even matter at what elevation the home is located, since water damage can occur from man-made (burst pipe) or natural (floodwaters accumulated after a storm) sources. Any time that there are leaking or burst pipes, sewer line backups, flooded basements or water buildups outside of a home, property water damage and flooding inside of the residential or commercial structure will usually be the result.

When the homeowner has the incidence of water damage in a home, there is the chance of major damage to the structure and the contents. This type of situation should always be considered to be an emergency. If water damage is not remediated quickly, it can harbor microorganisms that will begin to also contaminate the home. Taking care of floodwaters is usually not a DIY situation. In that case, it is best to call in the professionals as soon as possible to come in and remediate the water damage. It is important to note that professional remediators will assess your residential or commercial property damage to determine the classification and work to identity the type of water damage that has occurred at the residence or commercial property.

In particular, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) reviews all of the best practices for determining how water and flood damage cleanups are performed safely in a residential or commercial property. Likewise, the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) document from ANSI outlines all of the stages and steps that need to be followed to safely clean up water, floods or sewage damage at a home or business experiencing a flood.

Meanwhile, the professional remediation team will come to your property and evaluate the water damage situation. The type of water damage experienced is then classified by ANSI into three different categories. These categories determine how much contamination would be present in the flood water, and that can show the amount of potential damage that will be cause by the water to the effected property.

Category 1 – This water is considered to be safe to be around or to be exposed by the water in this category, as it has zero contamination associated with it. There are no issues with infections in the water, no dangerous microorganisms or problems with a homeowner drinking, bathing, cooking or washing with this category of water. The water is considered to be clean, and there is no risk of acquiring a disease if a person is exposed to this water. Category 1 water is usually reserved for describing water resourced from fresh water resources, such as rainwater or possibly the water that comes from a sprinkler system (if the hose has not been exposed to floodwaters in the past).

Category 2 – This category of water is identified as water that has the potential to be hazardous to human health. It is usually called gray water. If a person is exposed to Category 2 water, the microorganisms in the water could be a threat and may harbor diseases. Overall, the water in this category is unsafe to drink, and may even be contaminated with human wastes or chemicals.
 
Category 3 – The water in this category is called black water. It is compromised water and is considered to be highly contaminated with bacteria, viruses or microorganisms. Overall, this water is overall unsafe on all levels, and is dangerous if exposed to it. That being said, the water in this category needs to be completely remediated by professionals, since any continued contact with this water poses an ongoing risk for health concerns and adverse effects. In other words, the water in this category is hazardous to human health, and can cause serious diseases in humans. It can come from sewer overflows, flooded waterways and water that contains pesticides and heavy metals, which may be cancer causing.

In the case of Category 1 and Category 2 floodwater events, if the remediation is not cleaned up quickly and safely, these categories can actually turn into a Category 3 situation for the owner of the residential or commercial property. For this reason, standing water in a home needs to be removed as soon as possible, to prevent further health concerns for people living and working at the property.

We are able to clean up any flooding, floodwaters, stormwater, sewage backups, water damage, or other loss such as fire loss and disinfect for any viruses or bacteria at your residential or commercial property. We are here for you whenever you call us, and will come to you without any delays. Just give us a call at Restoration 1 of Central Maryland right now! We have crews in your area and can come to you 24/7.