Black water damage is a category 3 water issue that should never be handled on your own.
When you have flooding, a burst pipe or other standing water issues, the experts will first diagnose the water category as well as the damage class. Category 3 water is usually black water. This is water that is highly contaminated. It’s murky black or green in color and can even be standing in one place for days at an end.
Based on the definition by the IIRC, category 3 water contains sewage water, floodwater, and groundwater. The water is highly polluted and supports harmful bacterial growth. Handling it yourself can be harmful to a number of reasons. The following are some credible reasons that highlight just why you should take precaution:
Risk of Disease
Since black water is usually standing water, it can act as a breeding pool for mosquitoes and can contain larva or mosquitoes that can spread malaria. Similarly, other bacterial pollutants can also grow in standing water.
Black water is known to contribute to the following diseases if you come in contact with it:
- Hepatitis
- Gastroenteritis
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Leptospirosis
- Giardiasis
Contact with black water can occur accidentally or by swimming in it or even splashing in it to get out other belongings from it.
Can Irritate Skin
Even general contact with black water can also be harmful to you. You don’t need to accidentally drink the droplets. Even having a wound on your skin and getting black water can be harmful. You can get rashes, irritated skin, and even get parasites on your skin.
These parasites can carry diseases as well that will be transferred to you. That’s why you’ll see that professional cleaners will wear hazmat suits when handling this type of water.
It’s Highly Toxic
Apart from containing a lot of diseases, black water tends to be highly polluted with chemicals, sewage, and other waste materials. It is common for this type of water to have a bad smell as well. The toxicity of black water can be so high that it can start to eat at the materials around it.
Containing it in buckets or tubs is not recommended. Additionally, you can’t just move black water from one place to another. You need to dispose of it as you would dispose of biohazard waste. It is a good idea to avoid handling it.
Needs Specialized Equipment
When you call the experts, you will notice that they have specialized tools to handle black water. From draining to cleaning and even disposing of it, black water requires the use of specialized equipment. That’s why it is better to get professional help.
To do this yourself, you would have to invest in getting the right pumps, disposal containers, and gloves and shoes. This can be a high cost for something that you will only use once. That’s why it is better to get professional help to deal with the issue at hand.
Conclusion
Black water is dangerous, highly toxic and tends to be extremely harmful to dispose of as it is. Working with a professional will ensure that the job is done in the correct manner without causing any harm to others.
