Water damage comes in several forms. The most sanitary is water damage from a pipe burst or water heater leaks, water that is uncontaminated by raw sewage– the type we use for bathing and washing fruits and vegetables. If you have a plumbing leak like this, make sure you address the issue as soon as possible. Bacteria grow quickly, and it is recommended that the flooding be pumped out by a water mitigation company in fewer than 24 hours from the time the flood occurred for sanitation reasons.

When gray water (untreated water) comes into the home through rain leaks, it contains more harmful microorganisms than the water discussed above. Storms are a major culprit of this type of flooding and water damage. This type must be addressed quickly as well. The third type of water damage is the least pleasant: water mixed with raw sewage from a toilet overflow or from the main line backing up and flooding the crawl space or the basement.

Restoration services will remove carpets and other affected items, as the raw sewage carries pathogens which can cause disease and create a toxic environment. Wastewater contains human body wastes, washing machine water, bathing water, and the waste from the garbage disposal.