What is category 1 water damage?

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

If you were able to listen in on a private conversation between two water damage professionals, chances are you might not be able to even follow what they’re talking about.

Our industry has so much insider knowledge and shared, specialized lingo that it can sometimes be difficult for the average person to follow.

Take, for example, the concept of “category 1” water damage.

Water damage categories refer to the level of contamination in the water itself. They go from 1 to 3, ascending as more contamination is added.

By that logic, category 1 damage is the least contaminated. In fact, by definition, category 1 water is “clean water” and should actually be drinkable.

That doesn’t mean you’d actually want to drink it. The most common sources of category 1 water include water from toilet supply lines and burst pipes.

That said, if you have category 1 water damage, it could be much worse. With clean water, you have the best possible chance of drying and salvaging your structure and contents in a safe and sanitary way.