Contamination Hazards in Flood Water

9/13/2017 (Permalink)

Flood water may be a result of rain, but this need to be treated as black water.

The cause of your flood, whether it is the flood in your street, your basement, or otherwise needs to be treated as if it were contaminated water. Even if the source of the water is fresh, once it is outside of the pipe, or has fallen on the ground. We have spoken on our blog previously about the types of water contamination and how to treat them. Heavily contaminated water is referred to as black water. The important consideration surrounding black water is that it is not only unsafe to drink, but often is hazardous to be around. When it comes to flood water, here are a few things to consider why the water has become contaminated.

Visibility: With any flood water, as a result of dirt and other contaminates the water will become dark in color and cause a loss in visibility. With this loss of visibility, you are no longer able to see what lies within the water. This could very often be broken glass, sharp objects, and other hazards for tripping and falling.

Dirt: The discoloration causing the lack of visibility comes from the mixing of water with dirt and soil. When a flood occurs from heavy storms and rain, they pick up debris as soon as they meet with the ground. When water picks up this dirt, it can change the consistency of the water, making it more difficult to travel around in, and as a result a hazard if you attempt to navigate it.

Microorganisms: With the contaminates that flood waters pick up, come the organisms that exist within them. Depending on the source, and what may have come as a result of that source the quantity and type may change. Other considerations include contact with wastewater collection that may have overflowed and may be contaminated or even burst pipes.

The combination of these reasons make flood waters dangerous, and you should avoid contact with these situations at all cost. If you have flood damage, contact professionals who have the proper equipment and training to deal with the situation. Call us 24/7 at (916) 991-1522 for professional help from SERVPRO of North Highlands and Rio Linda when your next disaster occurs.