Category 2 water

What it means

Category 2 is the middle tier of the three water categories in the ANSI/IICRC S500 standard. Trade summaries of the standard describe it as water with significant contamination, which may hold unsafe levels of microorganisms or the nutrients that feed them. Cleanfax puts it plainly: water that can cause discomfort or illness.

The restorer assigns the category at the start of the job by asking where the water came from and what it passed through. The category describes how dirty the water is, not how much of it there is.

Why it matters to your claim or your bill

Category 2 can mean more cleaning and more removal of porous materials than Category 1, and sometimes an antimicrobial treatment. That raises labor, materials and disposal lines on the estimate. Because the category can change what an insurer expects to see, ask the restorer to write down why it chose Category 2 and to photograph the source. If you disagree with the call, a clear record helps whoever reviews it later. For the full picture, see our guide to water damage categories and classes.