What Makes Barstow See Category 3 Events
Living in Barstow means dealing with sewer lateral collapse during atmospheric river rainfall events sooner or later. A close second is hillside septic system failure during saturated soil conditions. The good news: water damage is fully recoverable when you catch it fast and bring in certified technicians.
Barstow's arid climate with occasional heavy rainfall increases the risk of black water contamination. The combination of porous soil and aging infrastructure exacerbates the problem during storm events.
Most category 3 black water cleanup calls in Barstow come from sewer lateral collapse during atmospheric river rainfall events. Running a close second is hillside septic system failure during saturated soil conditions. Once water sits unaddressed past 24 to 48 hours, microbial growth starts and the job gets a lot more expensive.
For public guidance on the health effects of mold after prolonged water exposure, see the EPA mold and health page.

