Black, Gray or Clean Water: What's the Difference?

12/28/2023 (Permalink)

If you had flood water in your home or business recently, may have it checked out for toxic contaminants.

If your home has had a flood, you’d probably wonder how safe the water is before coming in contact with it.

Should you retrieve possessions from the puddles left behind? If you forgot to wear gloves and boots, will soap and water be enough to rid the germs from your hands?

Those are excellent questions.

First & foremost, you must identify the water source.

Clean water will not cause an immediate threat. It contains no contaminants and originates from toilet holding tanks, snow melt, rain, appliances such as a broken refrigerator, air conditioning units, etc.

Gray water contains chemical or biological contaminates, and therefore, may pose some health risk. It originates from washing machines, showers, sinks, aquariums, etc.

Black water causes an immediate threat due to the expected contaminants in it, including but not limited to, viruses, bacteria and protozoan. This water originates from toilets and floodwaters. Oftentimes after a flood, water collects soils, sewage, etc..., which contain harmful contaminants and explains why it’s marked as black water. 

However, please note that as these waters sit, they can advance to a more serious level. For instance, after sitting for two days, clean water can turn into gray water. This is why water removal should be handled immediately.

Contact with contaminated water can cause vomiting, nausea, parasitic illness and fever.

If you’re not sure of the source, contact a professional.                           

If you’re dealing with gray or black water, it’s very important to get help as soon as possible. Keep in mind that if it’s clean water, and it’s been sitting for over 48 hours, it should be treated as a gray water problem.

At SERVPRO of Laurel and SERVPRO of Greenbelt NE/Beltsville E, we are storm & water damage and biohazard experts. We will efficiently restore any water damage and carefully treat and disinfect your home, so you feel safe in it again.

Does your Laurel, Greenbelt or Beltsville area  home or office need restoration or cleanup? We also have sister franchises that serve Rockville, Olney, Silver Spring North, Sandy Spring, Laytonsville and beyond.

Give us a call today at 301-323-8862 or 301-340-1313, and we will give you peace of mind!