What Is Black Water? Causes, Dangers, and What to Do About It

Black water is highly contaminated water from sources such as floodwater, sewage leaks, and toilet water containing fecal matter. Unlike grey water, which is somewhat contaminated but not as dangerous, black water must be handled and cleaned up by a biohazard cleanup professional.

Distinguishing black water from other categories of water damage can help you stay safe, limit exposure, and lower your risk of health consequences. In this blog, we’ll unpack black water sources, dangers, and what to do if you have a black water emergency.

Where Does Black Water Come From?

Black water is defined by the IICRC as Category 3 water damage. Any water that contains substantial amounts of chemicals, pathogens, and other dangerous contaminants is considered black water.

Black water damage usually comes from one of the following sources:

• Flooding from a storm, the sea, or rising river water
• Sewage backup and leakage
• Toilet overflow containing feces

Note that damage from floodwater is considered much more serious than damage from rainwater, which is considered clean water or Category 1 water damage. This is because floodwater usually flows across the ground, picking up any bacteria, waste, and chemicals in its path.

Likewise, an overflowing toilet that contains urine (Category 2) may contain bacteria but will not be nearly as severe as one containing feces (Category 3).

What Are The Dangers of Black Water Damage?

Black water not only causes substantial damage to your home, but its presence also creates an extremely dangerous environment to anyone nearby. Along with bacteria and pathogens, consider the additional substances that could be in floodwater, overflown toilet water, or other types of black water:

• Hazardous gases, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, which can make anyone exposed severely sick.
• Toxic algae, which form when algae have high nutrient levels and the water is warm and slow-moving. Algae blooms produce toxins and use up the oxygen in the water, threatening the health of people and animals.
• Pharmaceuticals, including any medicines that have gotten into the water source.
• Bodily fluids, including blood or feces from toilet water.

Another consequence of water damage, regardless of its category, is mold, which can form and spread on affected surfaces, particularly in rooms without proper ventilation.

It’s crucial that you contact a medical professional if you think you have been exposed to black water or have any unusual symptoms.

How Flood Response Handles Black Water Damage

Never attempt to clean up black water damage yourself. In the event of a black water emergency, evacuate and ensure you and your family are safe and out of harm’s way.

This level of water damage requires biohazard cleanup, where expertly trained technicians prevent the spread of contaminants, remove the black water, and restore order and cleanliness to your space.

Flood Response’s biohazard cleanup specialists are specially trained for black water damage restoration. Fully protected by personal protective equipment, our team will:

• Evaluate and contain the black water damage, sealing off affected areas to prevent the spread of harmful materials in the water
• Remove black water and biological materials using industrial-grade equipment
• Eliminate moisture and any mold development with a thorough remediation process
• Deep clean affected surfaces with EPA-rated disinfectants
• Discard any irreparable items and dispose of biohazardous waste in accordance with all applicable laws
• Reconstruct and restore damaged structures, returning your home to its original conditions

Black water is incredibly dangerous and stressful to deal with, which is why we facilitate the entire cleanup and restoration process so you can work with just one professional point of contact. In addition, Flood Response communicates directly with your insurance company on your behalf, presenting documentation of the damage for your claim.

For every restoration job, our mission is to provide unmatched service and make the process as stress-free as possible. Since 2002, we’ve helped families and business owners in Southern California restore their properties and rebuild their lives in the face of disaster.

For 24/7, full-service disaster recovery in Southern California, contact Flood Response today!