What Makes Black Water Dangerous?

Black water is Category 3 water damage or “grossly contaminated.” This damage can dent your wallet, and its effect on health may be even more expensive. It can have pathogenic, toxigenic, or other unsafe substances that might negatively affect people if ingested or contacted.

Two of the most usual sources are sewer leaks and floodwater runoff. Category 3 water may include dangerous products such as human waste or soil. It can pose severe damage to your home and your health. Read on to find out what makes black water dangerous.

Sewer Damage

Gasses from a sewage system leak release undesirable smells of poisonous and non-toxic gasses. Although not toxic, it might contain methane gas but might asphyxiate people and put them unconscious. Other gasses that may be present are hydrogen sulfide and ammonia; both are poisonous and might detrimentally impact your health. Carbon dioxide, chlorine, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide are likewise present in sewage gasses.

Harmful bacteria in black water are a perfect habitat for diseases like cholera and typhoid. To ensure your safety is to allow a professional damage restoration company to remove the water, clean and sterilize the area, and do the essential damage restoration.

Flood Runoff

Contaminated runoff is one of the greatest dangers to clean water in the U.S. The sources might originate from rising waters from rivers and streams, rain, and seawater. It picks up everything on its way – fertilizer, pesticides, oil, dirt, and other polluted materials. This contaminated and untreated water is drained to rivers, lakes, oceans, and even your residence.

Black water brought about by floodwater can be harmful as it lugs contagious diseases, livestock and human waste, and toxic chemicals. Floods can be a potential source of water-borne diseases like leptospirosis, hepatitis A, cholera, and typhoid fever. It can also increase carrier-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and hemorrhagic fever.

Black Water Fallacies

One misunderstanding that makes black water even more harmful is the mistaken idea that it can be self-cleaned. Another misconception is that it can only originate from sewage leakages within your property. Floodwater might begin as gray, but it becomes black water as it picks up contaminants along its path.

Safeguard yourself and your household by taking the appropriate action in handling black water. The only reasonable way to clean black water is to have the proper training, equipment, and cleaning agents. Only qualified restoration companies like PuroClean can address thorough decontamination and restorative works for your home.

Conclusion

When dealing with a black water issue, whether from a sewer leakage or flooding runoff, do not reach for your mop and bucket and try to clean it on your own. That’s not how you tend to water damages, even lower than Category 3, such as gray and even clean water damages.

The likelihood of contamination and property damage is too high to take lightly. Even Category 1 or 2 might progress to Category 3 in a very short time if not correctly dealt with. When taking care of water damage, always call your local restoration company.