Water Damage: Understanding Causes, Types, and Categories

Causes of Water Damage

Water damage can occur in various ways, with the most common causes being:

Based on the source and nature of the water damage, it can be classified into three primary types:

Clean Water Damage: Originating from a clean source, such as a burst water pipe or a leaking faucet, this type of water poses the least risk to health.
Grey Water Damage: Contaminated by mild pollutants, such as laundry detergent or dishwashing soap, this water may cause minor health issues if ingested or absorbed through the skin.
Black Water Damage: Highly contaminated with sewage or floodwater, this type of water poses significant health risks and requires immediate professional remediation.

Water damage is further categorized based on the degree of damage and the materials affected:

Category	Description
Category 1: Minimally Affected	Water exposure is limited to non-porous materials, such as metal, glass, or plastic, and immediate action has been taken to mitigate the damage.
Category 2: Moderately Affected	Porous materials, such as drywall, carpets, and insulation, have been exposed to water for less than 48 hours and can potentially be salvaged.
Category 3: Severely Affected	Significant water damage has occurred, often resulting in structural damage or the presence of black water. Extensive remediation and repair are usually required.