
Black Water Damage

Black Water Damage Questions
This is the most severe type of water damage. It causes significant damage to contents and structures. Most of the damage cannot be restored.
Black water can have a distinct odour. There are quite often visual markers present, thus making correct classification easy.
There are still some things to consider:
- How Did The Water Enter Your Home?
- What Can You See or Smell?
- How Long Ago Did The Water Damage Occur?
Instances Where Water is Deemed as Black.
- Sewage Backup. By far the most unpleasant type of water damage. This type of damage can mostly be smelt and seen. The E. coli in the water poses a health threat and full PPE is required for any work carried out.
- Water run-off from a street and/ or the garden. Chemicals and animal waste mix in with the water.
- Water pushing up from the sink or shower waste. The contamination may seem less obvious but is still present.
- Flood water from a creek or river. The overwhelming smell is a dead giveaway.
- Ocean surges. Classic example is where low lying coastal homes get swamped.
- Burst fish tanks. The smell can be overpowering.
- In instances where the water is allowed to fester in carpets and underlay for more than 72 hours. Grey water becomes black.
Our Company Experience Really Kicks In!
FACT CHECK:
You should keep yourself and your family away from a black water event.
It is great if you feel you have to get involved. Because of the health hazards present, our advice is that you leave us to follow the best practise protocols. You do not want to expose yourself or your family to harmful bacteria.
We Strive to Get Our Water Assessment Right.
You may think the water came from sewage backup. It could be something as simple as a cistern leak. Our technicians will make sure that the extent of the health risk is fully assessed.
There is no point in cutting corners or trying to save money when black water has affected your property. When water is black, it poses a health threat to you.

External Water Damage Protocols
In many instances the water damage is obvious and extreme. It is also potentially harmful to you. The focus on contents restoration shifts to contents removal and disposal. Quite often our technicians may need to use full personal protection equipment. Respirators, PPE overalls, protective footwear and gloves.
The contaminants in the water could pose a threat to the health our technicians. MFE staff follow the rules at all times. It is crucial that you follow our advice as well. Once the disposal phase of our work concludes, we recommend the complete drying and sanitisation of your property.
We also install HEPA filters to remove airbourne contaminants. It may be that we need to relocate you and your family. We will liase with your insurance company if this is a requirement.
This is a True Flood Emergency.
Concerned? You should be. This level of water damage is best left to the professionals. We specialise in this type of water loss.
Call Us Without Delay!
The 3 Different Types of Water Damage
CLEAN WATER DAMAGE
This is the easiest type of water damage for us to deal with. We use moisture meters and thermal imaging to get an accurate idea of the extent of your water ingress.
Professional inspection will show you the true damage.
Contaminated water may pose a health threat to you and your family. Making sure the water is clean helps us complete the appropriate workplace safety assessment.
GREY WATER DAMAGE
The classification of this water damage class is perhaps the most complicated. The water can initially be quite clean.
Our technicians will look at factors to determine the water classification.
As the days go by the contamination will increase to the level where it is classed as black water instead of grey.
BLACK WATER DAMAGE
This is the most severe type of water damage. It causes significant damage to contents and structures. Most of the damage cannot be restored.
This level of water damage is best left to the professionals.
Black water can have a distinct odour. There are quite often visual markers present, thus making correct classification easy.