Helpful Tips for Safely Dealing With Contaminated Water

12/28/2021 (Permalink)

A leaking toilet in Smith Springs, TN.

Tips for Dealing With Contaminated Water Safely

When water enters your home uninvited, it can be tainted with any number of unwanted pollutants. Some types of water damage might be relatively harmless to you and your family, but others may pose a real threat and require professional intervention. The three categories of contaminated water include:

• Category 1 – Water that is clean and free from contaminants that could be harmful to humans.
• Category 2 – Sometimes called grey water, this water contains physical, chemical or biological impurities that can be considered hazardous.
• Category 3 – Also known as black water, this water is heavily polluted with any variety of dangerous toxins, including human waste.

Source Before Color

While each classification may include references to color, do not judge the problem on color alone. The source of the water entering your residence can be crucial when it comes to determining which category of contamination is present. For example, a seeping toilet may appear to be only leaking clear water, but that water could be flowing from a tainted supply line. There may be unseen fecal contaminants that could place this water damage firmly in Category 3.

Safety Before Solutions

Finding the source of the contaminated water is a great way to determine what kind of problem you may have, but it may not be the safest course of action for you and your family. Discovering you have a Category 1 water issue from an overflowing bath may be straightforward, but safely assessing the source of a Category 3 leak can be hazardous work, and consulting with a professional is always prudent. If your bathtub is overflowing, for example, feel free to step away from this article and turn off the tap, but if you suspect (or are unsure) that your water leak could be polluted, take more cautious measures and contact the professionals immediately.

It is important to remember that there are several different categories of water contamination, and while you may feel confident in handling some problems on your own in Smith Springs, TN, it is always prudent to consult with a water contamination expert when dealing with contaminated water.