Commercial Flooding: Understanding Water Toxicity

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

Three Levels Of Water Toxicity

When water infiltrates your commercial building, it can cause significant damage to your structure and property. If your Mickiddyville, OK, business has been damaged due to flooding or other water-related problem, you may be interested in the three levels of water toxicity.

Category 1
This low-level of contamination is also known as clean water. Water from supply-side sources or stormwater that has not contacted the ground result in Category 1 contamination. Examples of this include:

• Leaking water heater
  
• Broken supply line from an ice maker or water filter
  
• Snowmelt leaking through a damaged roof
  
• Broken supply-side water pipe
  
  

Generally, damage from Category 1 water will be covered by your conventional business insurance, as long as none of the damage involved flooding.

Category 2
This moderate level of contamination, called greywater, comes from water that has been used by a consumer or appliance. It contains small amounts of detergents, food particles, grease and dirt. If your dishwasher or washing machine has leaked, you probably have Category 2 damage. Professional cleanup services are recommended, and your business insurance will likely reimburse you for a portion of it.

Category 3
Known as black water, this highly toxic water can cause serious damage and be difficult to clean up. If a sewer line back-up or a flood caused your water damage, you are dealing with Category 3 toxicity. When flooding occurs, the water can pick up physical hazards, chemicals and sewage. It is important to hire a professional remediation service to safely perform the cleanup and remediation for your building.
If a flood was the cause of your property damage, your conventional insurance will not cover the damage. You would need to have a separate flood insurance policy. Your agent can give you more information.
When your building takes on water, it can be stressful and costly to clean up the damage. Whether you have major flood damage or a small leak, it’s important to determine the contamination level of the water. Then you will know how to proceed with returning your business and your peace of mind to normalcy once again.