Water Extraction Guides · Emergency Response & Drying

Floodwater Safety: Why Floodwater Is Not Safe Water

Floodwater looks like ordinary water, and that is what makes it dangerous. It may be shallow, it may be still, and it may look clean, but it is not safe water. On its way into a home, floodwater picks up sewage, chemicals, fuel, and debris, and it carries all of that into the rooms it enters. Treating floodwater as if it were clean is one of the most common mistakes after a flood, and one of the most avoidable.

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This guide explains what floodwater can carry, why contact with it should be avoided, and the rules that keep people safe around it. The flood water extraction service page covers the service, and homes in Kenner and Covington face the same floodwater questions as homes anywhere else in the state.

What floodwater can carry

Floodwater is not rainwater. By the time it reaches a home, it has travelled across streets, yards, and drains, picking up whatever was in its path. Sewage from overwhelmed systems, chemicals from garages and workshops, fuel from vehicles and tanks, and debris of every kind can all be in the water, and none of it is visible to the eye. The water may look clear, but what it carries is not.

The contents of floodwater change with the place and the storm. Water that has passed through a residential area carries different risks from water that has passed through farmland or an industrial area, and water that has stood for days carries different risks from water that is still moving. None of that changes the rule: floodwater should be treated as Category 3 black water, whatever it looks like.

That classification matters because it decides how the water is handled. Category 3 water is professional-only, which means the cleanup belongs to a professional, not to a homeowner with a mop and a bucket. The rule is a safety rule, not a preference, and it applies even when the water looks clean.

Why contact with floodwater should be avoided

Contact with floodwater should be avoided because the water can carry contaminants that cause illness, and because the water can hide hazards that cause injury. Debris, broken glass, sharp metal, and open drains can all be hidden under the surface, and moving water can be far stronger than it looks. Even shallow floodwater can knock a person off their feet if it is moving fast enough.

Children and pets are at particular risk, because they are more likely to play in water, to put their hands in their mouths, and to be unable to judge the danger. Keep children and pets out of flooded rooms, out of flooded yards, and away from any water that has come from a flood, until the area has been assessed and cleaned by a professional.

Do not drink floodwater, do not use it to wash, and do not eat food that has been in floodwater. Do not use floodwater to clean anything, and do not let it come into contact with cuts, eyes, or mouths. If contact happens, wash with clean water and soap as soon as you can, and seek medical advice if you feel unwell.

Floodwater Safety: Why Floodwater Is Not Safe Water — Louisiana water guide

Floodwater outside the home

Floodwater outside the home carries the same risks as floodwater inside it, with the added danger of moving water and hidden hazards. Do not drive through flooded roads, and do not walk through floodwater outside. A road that looks passable can hide a washed-out surface, an open drain, or water deep enough to float a car, and moving water can sweep a person away at depths that look harmless.

Stay away from downed power lines and from any electrical equipment in or near floodwater. Do not touch anything electrical that has been in water, and do not assume a flooded street is safe because the water looks still. Wait until the water has gone down and the area has been judged safe before entering it.

Our standing water removal page describes the standing-water stage in general terms. The same principles apply outside the home: stay out of the water, stay away from electrics, and wait for a professional assessment.

Children and pets deserve particular care around floodwater, because they are more likely to play in water, to put their hands in their mouths, and to be unable to judge the danger. Keep children and pets out of flooded rooms, out of flooded yards, and away from any water that has come from a flood, until the area has been assessed and cleaned by a professional. A child who is kept clear of floodwater is a child who stays safe, and that simple rule is worth repeating to the whole household before the next storm.

What to do if you have touched floodwater

If you have touched floodwater, wash the affected skin with clean water and soap as soon as you can, and change out of any clothing that got wet. Do not touch your face, eyes, or mouth with unwashed hands, and do not eat or drink until you have washed. If you have a cut, clean it thoroughly and cover it, and seek medical advice if it becomes red, swollen, or painful.

If you feel unwell after contact with floodwater, seek medical advice and tell the clinician that you were in floodwater, so they have the full picture. Do not wait for symptoms to pass on their own if they are getting worse, and do not assume that feeling fine at first means there is no risk.

Homes in Slidell and Mandeville face the same floodwater questions, and the same rules apply. Availability is confirmed on the call. Call (877) 624-0105 to talk through what you found.

After the flood: staying safe during cleanup

After a flood, the cleanup itself needs the same care as the flood. Do not try to clean up floodwater yourself, since it is Category 3 black water and professional-only. Keep everyone out of the affected area until it has been assessed, and do not move wet items until you have been told to. Take photos from a safe place if you can, and keep a list of what was affected.

Do not eat food that has been in floodwater, and do not use floodwater to clean anything. Separate what is wet from what is dry, and do not put damp items back into a space that is still drying. If you are unsure whether something is safe to handle, leave it alone and ask.

Finally, remember that floodwater safety is not only about the flood itself. The days after a flood, when cleanup is under way and the water is gone, still carry risks from contaminated surfaces and hidden moisture. Stay careful until the space has been checked and found dry, and do not rush back into a routine that the flood has interrupted.

Staying safe during cleanup needs the same care as staying safe during the flood. Do not try to clean up floodwater yourself, since it is Category 3 black water and professional-only, and keep everyone out of the affected area until it has been assessed. Do not eat food that has been in floodwater, do not use floodwater to clean anything, and do not let children or pets near the water. The days after a flood, when cleanup is under way and the water is gone, still carry risks from contaminated surfaces, so stay careful until the space has been checked and found dry.

Key Takeaways

Floodwater is not rainwater.
Contact with floodwater should be avoided because the water can carry contaminants that cause illness, and because the water can hide hazards that cause injury.
Floodwater outside the home carries the same risks as floodwater inside it, with the added danger of moving water and hidden hazards.
If you have touched floodwater, wash the affected skin with clean water and soap as soon as you can, and change out of any clothing that got wet.
After a flood, the cleanup itself needs the same care as the flood.

Questions About Floodwater Safety: Why Floodwater Is Not Safe Water

Why is floodwater not safe water?

Floodwater picks up sewage, chemicals, fuel, and debris on its way into a home, and none of it is visible to the eye. The water may look shallow, still, and clean, but what it carries makes it unsafe for contact. That is why floodwater is treated as Category 3 black water, and why its cleanup is professional-only.

Can I walk through shallow floodwater?

No. Even shallow floodwater can hide debris, broken glass, sharp metal, and open drains, and moving water can be far stronger than it looks. Do not walk through floodwater outside, do not drive through flooded roads, and do not enter a flooded building. Wait until the water has gone down and the area has been judged safe.

What should I do if I touch floodwater?

Wash the affected skin with clean water and soap as soon as you can, and change out of any clothing that got wet. Do not touch your face, eyes, or mouth with unwashed hands, and do not eat or drink until you have washed. If you feel unwell afterwards, seek medical advice and tell the clinician you were in floodwater.

Is it safe to let children play in floodwater?

No. Children are at particular risk, because they are more likely to play in water, to put their hands in their mouths, and to be unable to judge the danger. Keep children and pets out of flooded rooms and yards, and away from any water that has come from a flood, until the area has been assessed and cleaned by a professional.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Flood Water Extraction page explains what that service covers, and the water removal page explains what that service covers when water has spread to more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water extraction help is available across Louisiana. See water extraction in Destrehan, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.