From leaks to flooded basements, faulty septic tanks, and sewage back-ups, water damage can seriously damage your home or property. But did you know it can also have some serious impacts on your health as well? When water damage isn’t dealt with immediately, it can lead to serious health issues for you, your family, or your employees. Many times, when we think of water damage, we think of large-scale natural disasters like life-threatening flooding and damage after a storm. But even a small issue or leak can lead to toxic mold growth, poor indoor air quality, and the long-term health risks associated with them.

Not only is flooding of any size or type a significant health risk, but water damage is a costly problem for your home or property and can leave you spending more money than you can afford. Keep you and your family safe by taking the necessary precautions before, during, and after so you don’t have to risk the safety or costs associated with water damage. Specifically, in this blog, we'll look at what water damage means for your health and the different types of flood situations that can create and lead to a high-risk environment. We'll also help you learn how to restore your property and return your home or business to a healthy environment if it should happen to you.

Plumbing Issues & leaks

Ever had an overflowing toilet or a blockage at the water main? It can create a truly foul-smelling back-up and completely contaminate sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, and any other location with access to a water drain. We call this type of situation "Dirty Water Flooding," and it can wreak havoc on your home or property. It can also lead to serious health concerns for you, your family, or your employees and needs to be addressed and dealt with immediately.

When it comes to dealing with dirty water flooding, it's vital to put you and your safety first by wearing long pants, long sleeves, rubber boots, rubber gloves, goggles, and a Respirator Mask. These items will help protect your skin, eyes, and respiratory system from coming into contact with contaminated particulates that will be present in the air and on surfaces. Next, you'll want to clean up the affected area and remove all filth and water as quickly as possible. If the back-up is located in the street or city sewer system, a professional will need to be called to stop the flow and clean the affected area.

An industrial-quality water pump, flood vacuum pump, or wet vacuum are effective tools that will help you efficiently remove large amounts of standing water. In addition, specialized water-damage air movers (or industrial fans) can be used to dry out affected spaces quickly and thoroughly. Always remember, after the area has dried, to clean, disinfect, and destroy bacteria, viruses, and germs before you resume using them. We recommend Vital Oxide Disinfectant Spray, Nas-12 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover & All-Purpose Cleaning Solution, and No-More Mildew Mold Protective Coating Spray. The Reliable Pronto 2-in-1 Steam Cleaning System is also a great tool for sanitizing and disinfecting without the need for cleaning solutions.

Floodwater Or Black Water

You may not have heard the term "Black Water" before, but it's used to describe floodwater that could be potentially contaminated with raw sewage, chemicals water, and other infectious materials and microbes. It's the most dangerous type of flooding to have in your home or business and poses serious health risks to you and others. When black water is in the mix, it's safest to stay away from standing flood water whenever possible, and if you do happen to come in contact with it, immediately wash with soap and hot water.

If you've ever been through a flood before, you may have had to evacuate in the case of a storm or flash-flood event. When this is the case, it's difficult to be proactive when it comes to water damage and flood restoration. When you are able to return, as soon as it's safe to do so, you should begin to remove any standing flood water from your home. You may have to turn to a professional with access to water pumps, extractors, air movers, and dehumidifiers to ensure that the job is done well and done right and that all moisture is eliminated. However, if you are tackling the job yourself, be sure to wear your PPE (personal protective equipment) and seriously consider investing in a Dehumidifier and or Air Purifier to help make your job easier.

Mold & Mildew Growth & The Diseases They Can Cause

Most everybody knows that floodwater is known for leading to mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew have been found to be the cause of several cases of "Sick Building Syndrome." This has even happened when the area has been cleared of all visible water. Unfortunately, even when this is done, the floor, walls, and coverings can hold onto trapped moisture long after the flood is gone. In these types of conditions, mold can take hold and spread quickly, growing on ceiling tiles, wood, drywall, paint, wallpaper, insulation, carpets, upholstery, and even dust particles.

Even short-term exposure to mold spores can cause allergic reactions, sinus congestion, eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and more. If you're sensitive to mold, you may also experience these symptoms as well as a more severe reaction, including fever, shortness of breath, long-term coughing, and other respiratory issues. Mold and mildew have also been known to cause neurological issues in specific long-term exposure situations. The damaging effects of mold and mildew on our health can be astronomical, and they can significantly vary from person to person, depending on a number of factors.

Long-Term Effects of Mold On Our Health

If floodwater contamination isn’t dealt with immediately and thoroughly, it can lead to significant impacts on our health and wellness. Mold and other water-born bacteria will continue to grow and multiply, causing health issues like asthma and potentially life-threatening primary and secondary infections in immune-compromised individuals. A specific occurrence of this, known as the "Katrina Cough," started appearing after the widespread flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. Due to the high level of mold spores and other contaminates present in the air, this respiratory illness spread quite rapidly throughout the residents of New Orleans.

Furthermore, toxic mold is an even more serious cause for concern and oftentimes grows in flood-ravaged areas that haven’t been properly cleaned or disinfected. In addition, molds like Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus Niger produce toxins known as "mycotoxins." These can cause a wide array of health issues and long-term side effects that can include neurological issues like memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, depression, brain fog, lack of concentration, confusion, and more. These issues are serious and can greatly impact our day-to-day lives, which is why taking care of any flooding concerns immediately and completely is of such importance.

Being Prepared For Flooding

Dealing with the hassle and stress of flooding damage is much easier when you're properly prepared. Do your due diligence and find out ahead of time if you live in a flood zone. If you do, you may want to invest in basic water damage/restoration equipment like a dehumidifier, air purifier, industrial fan, or wet vac.

After a flooding event occurs, it will probably be pretty difficult or too late to rent the equipment you need to prevent irreversible water damage and alleviate dangerous/unhealthy living conditions. This is especially true after a natural disaster like flooding from heavy rain or storm surge from hurricanes.

There will be hundreds of other people in your immediate area, all scrambling for the same equipment, tools, and resources as you. If you happen to live in a FEMA-designated flood zone or special flood hazard area, it'll always be smart and safe to purchase some type of flood insurance, even if you no longer have a mortgage and aren’t legally required to have it.

It's always best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. When you prepare for a flooding event, you have a much better chance of quick remediation. Not only will this save you time, but it will also reduce the risks and costs associated with water damage and the health issues that can accompany it.