Water categories a property owner should be familiar with:
• Category 1 – Water from a clean source with no substantial risk of causing sickness or discomfort is said to be “clean”. Examples include broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflows with no contaminants, and appliance malfunctions involving water supply lines.
• Category 2 – Water that does carry a significant degree of chemical, biological, and/or physical contamination. Examples include aquarium leaks, waterbed leaks, toilet bowl overflows, dishwasher or clothes washer discharges, and water that enters the structure from hydrostatic pressure (from below grade).
• Category 3 – When water intrusion results from a grossly unsanitary source or carries pathogenic (disease causing) agents. Examples include discharge from toilets that originate from beyond the toilet trap (from the sewer or septic system) and intrusions from the surface of ground water into the structure (flood waters).