A Guide to Water Damage Categories in Athens, TN | Leading Remediation Tennessee

When your Athens, TN property is affected by water, your first call should be to a professional. At Leading Remediation Tennessee, we know that not all water damage is the same. The IICRC classifies water into three categories based on the source and level of contamination. As your local experts, we believe an informed homeowner can make safer decisions. This guide explains the three categories of water and why our 24/7 response is critical for all of them.

Have water damage in Athens, TN? Call Leading Remediation Tennessee 24/7 at (833) 541-0100.

A Homeowner's Guide to Water Categories

The treatment and restoration process depends entirely on the type of water involved.

• Category 1: "Clean Water"Source: This is water from a clean source, like a burst supply line, overflowing sink, or a failed water heater.The Risk: While it starts clean, it's not harmless. After 24-48 hours, this water can mix with building materials and begin to grow bacteria and mold, degrading into Category 2.Our Response: Leading Remediation Tennessee responds quickly to extract the water and begin structural drying to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem.
• Category 2: "Gray Water"Source: This water is contaminated and could cause illness if ingested. Sources include overflowing dishwashers, washing machines, or toilets (with no solid waste).The Risk: This water contains detergents, cleaning agents, or biological contaminants. It requires specialized cleaning and sanitization.Our Response: We remove the water, clean all affected surfaces with antimicrobial treatments, and ensure the property is sanitized before drying.
• Category 3: "Black Water"Source: This is grossly unsanitary water. Sources include sewage backups, rising floodwaters (from rivers or streams), or toilet overflows (with solid waste).The Risk: Black water is highly toxic and contains dangerous pathogens, bacteria, and viruses. Never attempt to clean this yourself.Our Response: This is an emergency that requires professional-grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Leading Remediation Tennessee's certified team will perform a full removal, containment, and disinfection of the entire area. All porous materials (like drywall and carpet) are typically removed and replaced.