Black Water: What You Should Know  

When your home or business is damaged by a flood, it can be devastating. Whether you experience a small amount of damage, or a large amount of water has entered your home, it is critical to have it cleaned up as quickly as possible. A small amount of water damage may appear harmless, but it can do more damage than you think if left unattended.

There are three classification levels of water damage: clean water, gray water, and black water. Black water is the most hazardous. However, if left unattended, gray water can turn to black water after 48 hours.

What is Black Water?

First, black water poses a serious health risk and should only be cleaned up by a professional water damage restoration team. It is basically floodwater that contains soil and sewage water. Raw sewage is contaminated with all sorts of bacteria, fungi, microbes, molds, and viruses. Exposure to raw sewage can lead to diseases such as Hepatitis, Cholera, and a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Any contact with contaminated surfaces can lead to an infection. This doesn’t end once the water is dried up. Airborne microbes can be inhaled if safety precautions are not taken.

What You Should Do

When dealing with gray water or black water, time is critical. Contact a disaster restoration service as soon as you can to handle your water damage. A restoration team will dry the area up quickly using wet vacuums and water pumps. They will clean the air using dehumidifiers and fans, and remove carpet, underlay, or wallboards that were contaminated.

At ServiceMaster of Greenville and Spartanburg, our professional team can help you with your water damage. We recognize that this is a difficult time and will work to make the process as smooth as possible for you. Contact us online or at 864-574-3133 for more information or to schedule an appointment.