How To Deal With Black Water After a Flood

5/2/2019 (Permalink)

Flood Damage at a downtown home in Arlington Heights, IL.

Experiencing a flood in Arlington Heights, IL , can be a traumatic experience on its own, but the stress may continue as you deal with the aftermath of any water damage affecting your home. If standing water remains in the area, it is considered black water. This situation calls for immediate action in order to protect your home and family members that may be exposed to this water.

What Is Black Water?

Black water is any type of contaminated water that may contain the following harmful bacteria:

• E. Coli
• Hepatitis
• Leptospira
• Salmonella
• Giardia

It is considered a health risk for anyone who comes into contact with it and can result in serious illness or even death. Overflowing sewage water, leaking toilet water, and remaining flood water are all examples of this type of polluted water.

What Are the Health Risks?

To avoid further water damage or any threat to your or your family’s health, you need to address the issue of standing, infected water immediately. Make sure to contain the contaminated water and remove yourself and other people or animals from the area as quickly as possible. If people or animals come into contact with the contaminants in this water, they may experience any of the following conditions:

• Diarrhea and abdominal cramps
• Chills, lack of appetite, or fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hepatitis, Tetanus, Weil’s disease, or infection
• Death (in extreme cases)

What Should You Do?

If there is any standing water remaining after a flood, you should always assume that it is contaminated water. Do not try to remove the water from your home yourself. Quickly contact a restoration specialist to assess the situation and take the appropriate action.

These professionals will have the expertise and equipment to fully remove any harmful pollutants and bacteria from your home. You won’t need to worry about any lingering contamination since these specialists are trained in how to effectively sanitize your house and deal with any other water damage that may have occurred.