Is Floodwater Safe? What New York Homeowners Should Know
The short answer is no: floodwater is not safe water. It may look like ordinary rainwater, but by the time it has run across roads, through drains and into a house, it can carry sewage, chemicals, fuel and debris that you cannot see.
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This guide explains what floodwater can contain in general terms, why contact should be avoided, and why flood cleanup is a job for professionals.
Floodwater is not safe water
Floodwater picks up whatever it passes over. On a street it can mix with sewage from overwhelmed drains, with oil and fuel from roads, and with chemicals from gardens and garages. Inside a house it can also pick up contaminants from floors, drains and appliances.
That is why floodwater is treated as Category 3 black water, the same category as sewage. It is not water you should touch, drink, or use for cleaning, and it is not water you should let children or pets near.
What floodwater may carry in general terms
In general terms, floodwater may carry sewage, bacteria, chemicals and sharp debris such as broken glass and metal. It can also hide hazards under the surface, including open drains, displaced covers and submerged objects that can cause injury.
The contents of floodwater vary from one event to another, and no general guide can say what a particular flood carried. The safe approach is the same in every case: avoid contact and let professionals handle the cleanup.
Avoid contact and keep others away
If floodwater has entered your home, keep everyone out of the affected rooms, and do not let children or pets play in or near it. Wash your hands if you have touched it, and keep floodwater away from food, drinking water and cooking areas.
Do not try to mop or pump floodwater yourself. Professional crews use protective equipment and the right methods for contaminated water, and our page on flood damage cleanup explains what that cleanup covers in general terms.
Professional-only cleanup
Because floodwater is treated as contaminated, its cleanup is professional-only. Materials that were soaked by floodwater, such as carpet and underlay, may need to be removed rather than cleaned, and the decision depends on what the water touched and how long it sat.
In Central New York, flood help in Syracuse follows the same approach, and emergency water removal covers the first stage of getting contaminated water out of a building. If floodwater has entered your home, call a professional rather than starting the cleanup yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Floodwater picks up whatever it passes over.
- In general terms, floodwater may carry sewage, bacteria, chemicals and sharp debris such as broken glass and metal.
- If floodwater has entered your home, keep everyone out of the affected rooms, and do not let children or pets play in or near it.
- Because floodwater is treated as contaminated, its cleanup is professional-only.
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