Common Questions About Category 2 Water Damage

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

If you are stuck with a broken pipe at your commercial establishment, you may have heard about Category 2 water damage and are finding yourself left with a lot of questions. Will water pipe repair address the issue? How damaging is this type of water? Fortunately, we have the answers you are looking for. Here are three common questions about Category 2 damage and responses to each.

What Is It?

There are three categories of water damage. They include the following:

• Category 1 damage, which is also known as “white water.” This is clean, fresh water.
• Category 2 damage, also known as “gray water.” This is water that sat too long.
• Category 3 damage. This is also known as “black water.” This water is contaminated.

In other words, Category 2 damage started out as clean water damage, but sat too long and became somewhat contaminated. Water from a broken pipe would be gray water of this kind. If you haven’t completed the water pipe repair and the moisture has sat for a couple of days, it may now be Category 2 water.

What Causes It?

As mentioned above, water that sits too long simply becomes gray water on its own. It usually comes from a higher level and seeps through building materials after your building becomes flooded. For example, water that starts on the second floor of your building is usually Category 1 water but then becomes Category 2 water as it trickles down to the first floor.

How Can I Address It?

If you handle your water pipe repair quickly, your clean water will not likely turn into Category 2 water or cause significant damage. Seek help as soon as your building is damaged to prevent a huge catastrophe. If significant damage is already present, your local commercial water damage restoration company should be able to help you complete remediation and drying processes in a timely manner to help salvage your property.