Category 3 Water Cleanup in the United States

Before cleanup moves forward, grossly contaminated water that can contain harmful agents. In simple terms, under the IICRC S500 standard, it covers sewage, water from outdoors at ground level, water that contacted contamination on its way, and lower category water that degraded over time.

In simple terms, category 1 is clean water from a sanitary source such as a supply line. For your property, category 2 is water carrying significant soil, such as appliance discharge or drain water.

Before cleanup moves forward, category describes what is in the water. In simple terms, class describes how hard the space will be to dry, according to how much of its total surface area is wet porous material.

In simple terms, by how much of the total surface area of the space, meaning floor, walls and ceiling together, is wet porous material.

In simple terms, yes, and this is the part most people are never told. To keep the next step clear, clean water picks up soil and grows bacteria as it stands, so it is treated as Category 2 within about a day and Category 3 beyond about two days.

Before cleanup moves forward, it means the estimate should include sealed work area, protective equipment, removal of absorbed porous materials, documented disposal and a cleaned and dry release.

Before cleanup moves forward, no. In simple terms, the category condemns porous material that absorbed the water, not the contents of the room.