Categories of Water Damage: A Guide for Georgia Homeowners
Not all water damage is the same, because not all water is the same. Think about it this way: water passes through your home every day in various places for all sorts of differing reasons. You have sanitary water being pumped through a city water line into your kitchen faucet. You also have that same sanitary water being diverted into your appliances—like dishwashers and washing machines—where it gets contaminated by detergents and waste. Then, we have water exiting our homes through drain pipes connected to our showers, toilets, and other fixtures. Of course, this water is the most contaminated of them all.
Within the field of water damage restoration, experts have come up with a way to organize water into three different categories. These categories are determined based on the level of contamination, and play a big role in the water remediation process. Once a professional team like Provision identifies the category of water involved in your home damage, they can take appropriate steps to handle the damage in the most effective and efficient way.
At Provision Property Restoration, we’ve helped homeowners all around Atlanta assess, address, and recover from property damage of all kinds. In this article, we’re going to walk you through the three official categories of water damage so that you can quickly assess the damage severity in your own home. Each category comes with varying levels of urgency and professional intervention.
Scroll down to the bottom for our answers to frequently asked questions from real-life customers, or get free help fast with our no-strings-attached water damage inspection and consultation.
Why Georgians Need to Know the Water Damage Categories
We get the water damage classifications from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). These categories aren’t made up by us or your cousin George—they’re the official scientific standard by which restoration efforts are informed. These categories help homeowners and remediation professionals determine how hazardous the water damage is and what steps must be taken to clean and restore the property safely.
Knowing the category of the water damage in your home helps answer some of the following key questions:
Is this water dangerous to my health?
Can any damaged flooring and drywall be saved?
Will this water damage affect my insurance coverage?
How quickly do I need to begin the remediation process?
So let’s get into it!
Category 1: Clean Water
Clean water has originated from a sanitary source.
This category includes water damage from:
Broken water supply lines
Overflowing sinks or bathtubs (with no contaminants)
Appliance malfunctions (from clean, uncontaminated water lines only)
Clean water doesn’t pose an immediate health risk.
However, if left untreated for more than 24-48 hours, clean water can degrade into Category 2 or 3 as it comes into contact with dirt, bacteria, or other contaminants in your home. For this reason, it’s still important to address the water damage as fast as possible.
What to do with damage from clean water:
Shut off the water source (if safe to do so)
Call Provision for a free inspection and moisture mapping
Begin drying and dehumidification as soon as you can
Category 2: Gray Water
Gray water contains a moderate level of contamination.
This category of water can make you sick if ingested or if it comes into contact with broken skin.
Sources of gray water include:
Washing machine or dishwasher overflows (during use)
Toilet overflows (without feces)
Sump pump failures
Contaminants in gray water can include harmful bacteria and viruses.
This is why it's important to call a remediation professional when the damage in your home involves this category of water. Provision offers free inspections and consultations, as well as the tools and techniques required to safely sanitize and restore your home.
What to do with damage from gray water:
Avoid direct contact with the water
Immediately call Provision for containment and cleanup
We’ll install air scrubbers and use our child and pet-friendly disinfectants like Bioesque to clean the space
Category 3: Black Water
Black water is severely contaminated and poses serious health risks.
This category often contains pathogens, toxic chemicals and biohazards, typically from the following sources:
Floodwaters from rivers or storm surges
Toilet overflows with fecal matter
Exposure to black water can result in severe illness.
Everything this water touches must be treated as seriously contaminated. That often includes drywall, flooring, insulation, and even HVAC systems.
What to do with damage from black water:
Evacuate the affected area as quickly as possible
DO NOT attempt to clean up on your own
Contact Provision for emergency mitigation and safety action, including our custom airtight containments
Why You Should Address Water Damage FAST
Water damage worsens by the hour. Waiting even one day can increase the cost, health risks and restoration time. For example, mold growth begins within 24-48 hours of the water damage event. Taking Georgia’s already humid climate into account, it’s even more important in our region that you act fast.
Moving quickly doesn’t cost you anything. Call Provision at any time to get a comprehensive professional inspection and consultation of your water damage. Our mitigation experts are clean, courteous, and arrive on-time with industry-leading tools that allow them to inspect your home in a non-invasive manner. All of our findings are digitally recorded so you can see the moisture readings for yourself and make an informed decision about the next steps.
Georgia’s Experts on Water Damage Mitigation
Provision Property Restoration is based in North Atlanta, and we serve the entire surrounding region with certified expertise and compassionate care. We know what Georgia homeowners are up against—from sudden summer storms to winter pipe bursts.
Our team is equipped with best-in-class mitigation tools like FLIR thermal cameras, Protimeter moisture meters and Phoenix air movers. Our airtight containments are custom-installed for every job—no matter how big or small—for meticulous air quality and dust control. Even our choice to use Bioesque for sanitation was carefully researched by our team to ensure that your home gets the most effective cleaning while remaining safe for kids and pets.
Provision’s damage mitigation tools for every water category:
FLIR thermal imaging for non-invasive moisture detection
Phoenix dehumidifiers to quickly dry structures and spaces
Airtight containments with negative air pressure to stop cross-contamination
HEPA-filtered air scrubbers to purify indoor air
Bioesque botanical disinfectant for safe and effective cleaning
Full PPE (personal protective equipment) for our technicians
Daily monitoring and moisture reports
Full documentation for insurance claims
Frequently Asked Questions on Water Damage in Georgia
How do I know what category my water damage is?
If you’re still unsure how to categorize the water damage in your home, our free inspection includes identifying the water source, damage category, and creating a plan of action.
Can Category 1 water turn into Category 2-3?
Yes—within just 24-48 hours, clean water can pick up contaminants and become hazardous. That’s why it's vital to act quickly when you notice any water damage in your home.
Will my insurance cover water damage?
Most insurance policies cover water damage that is both sudden and accidental. Water damage from floods typically requires special coverage. If you’re unsure about your coverage, our experts will give you the answers and guidance you need during your free inspection and consultation. Our team will even handle the entire insurance claim for you to maximize your payout and ensure coverage.
Pro tip: Reach out to Provision for free guidance before calling your insurance.
Do I have to leave my home during water damage mitigation?
Not always. Our airtight containments and HEPA air scrubbers allow many homeowners to safely stay in the unaffected areas of their home. We’ll advise you on your particular situation during the free inspection and consultation. If you are forced to leave your home, any applicable insurance coverage will include temporary housing for your family.
How long does water damage restoration take?
The entire process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It all depends on the extent of damage and the required restoration efforts. This is another thing that will be addressed during a free Provision inspection and consultation. You’ll also receive daily check-ins from our team with moisture readings so that you’re always up-to-date on the restoration progress.
Call Provision Today for a Free Water Damage Inspection
Water damage is scary—but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you’ve spotted wet flooring, dripping ceilings, or a strange smell, don’t wait. Call Provision Property Restoration for your free inspection and consultation anywhere in North Atlanta and the surrounding region.
Our team will identify the water damage category, document all issues, and create a plan for fast, safe, and professional restoration. We’ll even handle the insurance process for you, so you can focus on what matters most: getting your home back to normal.
Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation damage inspection.
