Plumbing Tips | January 17, 2022

The 3 Categories Of Water Damage (You Need To Know This!)

There are 3 categories of water damage that can seriously impact your property and your health.

Here’s what you need to know about Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3 water damage so you can identify the problem immediately and protect your home and family.

Table of Contents

The 3 Categories of Water Damage

Experts divide water damage into three categories, based on the source and quality of the water causing property damage. In other words, where the water came from, and how safe it is, has everything to do with which category the damage falls into.

According to the IICRC, which makes these classifications, the categories of water “refer to the range of contamination in water, considering both its originating source and its quality after it contacts materials present on the job site.”

Let’s take a look at each category, informally known as Clean Water (Category 1), Grey Water (Category 2), and Black Water (Category 3). Categories are also often referred to as CAT-1, CAT-2, and CAT-3.

What is Category 1 Water Damage?

Category 1 water damage involves water from a sanitary source, considered clean. This type of water damage is the least problematic.

Although a CAT-1 event can still cause significant property damage, it does not pose a substantial health risk. Since clean water causes the damage, you can dry out and salvage most materials like wood, furniture, and even wet carpet.

Category 1 water damage often comes from these sources:

Potable water supply lines (such as the drinking water that comes into your home)
Freshwater (such as falling rainwater or melting ice and snow)
Water-using fixtures (such as toilet bowls and tanks that aren’t contaminated)

category 1 water damage - water heater flooding — A Category 1 water damage event could come from a burst water heater. Because the water inside the tank is considered clean, this would be a CAT 1 event. However, even though it is unlikely to cause illness if treated properly, this type of event can still cause tremendous damage to a finished basement.

What is Category 2 Water Damage?

Category 2 water damage poses a greater risk because it involves contaminated water that can potentially cause sickness to those who come into contact with it. A Category 2 event lowers the chances of drying out and salvaging damaged items, but the possibility depends on the extent and type of contamination. To properly disinfect and salvage any damaged materials, professionals use anti-microbial solutions, HEPA vacuuming, and industrial drying techniques.

Sources of Category 2 water damage often include:

Water-using appliances (such as overflows from dishwashers, washing machines, and toilet bowls that contained urine)
Hydrostatic pressure leaks (these occur mostly in basements)

What is Category 3 Water Damage?

Category 3 water damage events are the most severe because they involve severely contaminated water containing pathogens, toxins, fungi, and bacteria that can cause serious illness or even death to those who come into contact with it.

Professionals must address this type of water damage immediately. They must remove any contaminated materials and treat the remaining space using their knowledge, methods, and equipment to restore the property.

Sewer lines (sewage and wastewater from backups after the trap)
Saltwater sources (such as seawater and ocean water)
Contaminated natural water (from polluted waters found in rivers, streams, and wind-driven rain from storms)

what is a category 3 water damage - flooded house interior — This house on a slab foundation has been flooded by a sewer line backup. The “black water” flowing into the home is severely contaminated wastewater that is considered Category 3 water damage.

Final Thoughts

As you might guess, the only type of water damage you should even consider dealing with yourself is Category 1. However, improper handling of a CAT 1 event can escalate it into a CAT 2 event.

It’s much wiser, safer, and less expensive overall, to hire a professional emergency plumber to stop the source of the water damage and a certified water damage company to restore your home to a safe place once again.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you have leaking, flooding, or water damage issues you need to deal with immediately.

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.