SERVPRO has the answers to your contaminated water cleanup and restoration

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

One of the first things to do when faced with water damage is determine what kind of contamination you’re dealing with. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), water can be contaminated by agricultural pollution, oil pollution, sewage and wastewater, radioactive substances, harmful chemicals, and various other materials. It can sometimes be difficult to determine the type and extent of water damage affecting your home or business. That's why it's best to call a local property disaster restoration company like SERVPRO of East Windsor to fill in the blanks. Our Professional staff will come and inspect your damage and customize a removal, cleanup, and restoration solution to get your property damage reversed as quickly and effectively as possible.

Different types of contaminated water pose different risks, but the longer the water stays in a home, the more severe the property damage it will cause and the greater the threat to your health. Also called black water, Category 3 water is water from sewage backups and overflowing rivers that contains various hazardous contaminants, sewage, and/or toxic debris. According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IIRC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all water originating from sea water, ground or surface water, rising rivers and streams, and wind-driven rain from hurricanes and tropical storms is considered Category 3.

Three types of water damage – our SERVPRO restoration professionals can decide what services work best for your recovery.

Category 1: Clean water originates from a sanitary source such as a broken pipe, or other water source; rainwater is also considered clean and poses no substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure. However, it may not always remain clean after it meets other surfaces or materials.

Category 2: Gray water is used to classify slightly contaminated water and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. It may contain potentially unsafe levels of microorganisms or nutrients for microorganisms, as well as other organic or inorganic matter (chemical or biological).

Category 3: Black water is highly contaminated and filled with pathogenic, toxins, or other harmful materials. Such water sources may carry silt, organic matter, pesticides, heavy metals, regulated materials, or toxic organic substances. Black water is typically caused by sewage damage, flooding, or any type of natural disaster; black water should always be handled by trained professionals.

Professionals use specialized tools and training to remove flood water from New Jersey properties during storm damage disaster restoration.

As straightforward as water removal might appear, there are more considerations for removing water from your home or business than you might think. When Spring and Summer storms are coming to Mercer County it’s important to be prepared, our SERVPRO teams are ready and always prepared to handle any size property disaster. Calling SERVPRO after you experience flood or property damage from coastal flooding, severe thunderstorms, or basement flooding, can be the difference from a quick cleanup and mitigation or costly restoration, construction, and mold remediation services.