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What is Greywater Damage or Sullage?

By Luke Armstrong

When water damage occurs, you will want to hire a flood cleanup professional right away. But you’re your general knowledge, there are three different types. They will all depend on their source, whether they were caused by rain water, sink water, or sewage water, some forms will be exceedingly more dangerous than others. The first type, Category 1, is fresh water. This is derived from sink water, rain water, or any water that is not contaminated. The second, Category 2, is Greywater, derived from washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters. The 3rd, Category 3, is contaminated water, that includes sewage water (you will want to call sewage cleanup services right away). While most individuals understand the difference between fresh and contaminated water, little is known about Greywater, also known as sullage.

Greywater: What Is It?

If you experience any kind of flooding within your home, it is important to know whether or not it is contaminated. This will determine if you will be able to start the extraction process before the water damage restoration professionals arrive. Freshwater from an overflowing sink, water line, or faucet is harmless; therefore, you would be able to remove some of it yourself. Greywater on the other hand, includes byproducts that are developed from washing clothes, running the dishwasher, and showering. If there is any malfunction within these appliances, it is called greywater. This can also include a sump pump blockage or breaking of a large aquarium.

What is Greywater Damage or SullageGreywater: Is It Dangerous?

Although some types of flood water are more dangerous than others, all types can be harmful. For example, you should never enter any flooded room while the electricity is turned on.

However, sullage is contaminated in a way that it poses negative health affects towards humans and animals. This is because it may contain one or more of the following: cleaning products, bleach, dirt, detergents, grease, and other food debris. It can also contain microorganisms such as bacteria that live off of the organic debris.

Cleaning Up Sullage

As Greywater is dangerous, those living with asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system are especially at risk during this kind of flood. However, if you do plan to start the cleaning process before the flood cleanup professionals arrive, there are important safety precautions that must be taken first. The most important is to always wear personal protective equipment, including a mask, gloves, long pants, long sleeves, boots, and eye wear.

You must always treat the flooded area as if it were to contain biohazards, keeping young children and animals at a distance. If you do not feel comfortable starting the cleanup process yourself, the water cleanup specialists will be able to handle all aspects of the damage.

Sullage Restoration

If you have experienced a flood caused by Greywater, keep in mind that it will turn to black, contaminated water by itself in less than 48 hours. This is why emergency water cleaning services must be called right away to prevent additional damage to your building structure and content.

Any carpeting that has been damaged will need to be removed as well as the padding and contents on the floor. While some materials can be cleaned and sanitized, porous materials, such as drywall and wood will most likely need to be replaced.

The flood water can also be time-consuming to clean. As it will require more than just a thorough mopping, the area will need to be dried thoroughly. The technicians will set up drying equipment, including high-velocity air movers and dehumidifiers to remove all remaining moisture from the structure and air.

Calling the Professionals

It is always best to let a professional water damage cleanup company to handle any type of water or flood damage. ServiceMaster is one of the leading providers in the restoration industry. Their technicians have years of experience in securing the flooded area, extracting all standing water, and restoring all building materials. They are the most effective and efficient in the process, ensuring that you can resume your daily activities in a timely manner. If you have additional questions about Greywater or any other type of flooding, do not hesitate to contact your local ServiceMaster today.

You can also refer to these tips about how to prevent water damage in the future to save you from dealing with a huge mess down the road.