Why categories exist
Restoration standards sort water into three categories, and the same sorting guides most insurance discussions. The idea is simple: the dirtier the water, the less likely porous materials are to be safely cleaned. Category one starts clean, like a broken supply line. Category two carries some contamination, like a washing machine overflow. Category three is grossly contaminated, like sewage or river water. A glass of water spilled on a table is category one only until it sits long enough to grow bacteria, so time matters as much as source.
In Wheat Ridge the categories come up more often than you might expect. A water heater tank split is typically clean at first. Water that enters through a basement window well after a summer storm carries soil and runoff and is usually treated as category two or three. A backup through a floor drain is category three.
Category by common Wheat Ridge source
- Source
- Supply line or water heater leak
- Starting category
- One
- Why it can worsen
- Sits in carpet or insulation and picks up bacteria
- Source
- Washing machine or dishwasher overflow
- Starting category
- Two
- Why it can worsen
- Detergent, soil and lint load the water
- Source
- Window well or surface runoff
- Starting category
- Two or three
- Why it can worsen
- Soil, fertilizer and debris ride in
- Source
- Sump pit overflow
- Starting category
- Two or three
- Why it can worsen
- Groundwater and pit sediment mix in
- Source
- Sewer line or floor drain backup
- Starting category
- Three
- Why it can worsen
- Human waste and pathogens
- Source
- Creek or gulch flooding
- Starting category
- Three
- Why it can worsen
- Untreated flow from outside
What the category suggests for materials
- IfClean water, acted on promptlyThenCarpet, pad and drywall can often be dried in place, with moisture readings to confirm.
- IfGray water, soaked carpet padThenPad is commonly removed; carpet may be cleaned and dried if it is in good shape.
- IfBlack water touched anything porousThenDrywall, insulation, pad and carpet are generally removed and discarded.
- IfHard surfaces like concrete, sealed tile and metalThenThese can usually be cleaned and disinfected, even after category three exposure.
How clean water turns
Clean water does not stay clean. If a leak is left for a day or two in a warm, closed basement, the category can slide upward as microbes multiply in damp materials. That is the reason for acting early and also the reason a provider may describe a category differently than a homeowner expected.
If you are unsure, photograph the water and note where it came from, then ask whoever evaluates the job to explain the category they assign and what they base it on. A clear answer should mention the source, the age of the water and what materials it touched.
Common questions
Is rainwater that enters a basement considered clean?
Usually not. Once it crosses soil, driveways and window wells it picks up contaminants, so it is generally treated as gray or worse.
Who decides the category?
A person evaluating the loss decides, using the source and conditions. Insurers may review the same facts, so your photos and notes help.
General information for Wheat Ridge, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.