Flood Damage Cleanup & Water Extraction Ireland

Flooding in Ireland: A Growing Problem

Ireland experiences significant flooding events with increasing frequency. The OPW (Office of Public Works) estimates that over 34,500 properties in Ireland are at significant risk of flooding. Winter storms, heavy rainfall, river overflow, coastal surges, and urban surface water flooding affect communities across the country every year. The storms of recent winters — from Storm Desmond through to the events of 2025 and 2026 — have caused millions of euros in property damage.

But flooding is not only a winter problem or a river problem. Burst pipes, water tank failures, washing machine leaks, blocked drains, and flat roof failures cause water damage year-round in properties of all types. A burst pipe in an unoccupied commercial building over a weekend can flood multiple floors. A blocked drain during heavy rain can back up into a ground-floor apartment. A leaking water tank in an attic can saturate ceilings, walls, and floors before anyone notices.

Whatever the cause, the response needs to be fast. Every hour that water sits in a property, it causes further damage: plasterboard swells, timber warps, flooring delaminates, electrical systems corrode, and mould begins to colonise within 24 to 48 hours. Optus Glean provides 24/7 emergency flood response to minimise damage, accelerate recovery, and get your property back to normal as quickly as possible.

Understanding Water Categories

Not all flood water is the same. The water category determines the health risk and the remediation approach:

• Category 1 — Clean Water — From burst supply pipes, water tanks, and rainwater ingress. Poses minimal health risk. Requires extraction, drying, and monitoring. If left untreated for more than 48 hours, clean water can deteriorate to Category 2.
• Category 2 — Grey Water — From washing machines, dishwashers, aquariums, minor sewage overflow, and stagnant water. Contains bacteria, chemicals, and organic matter. Requires extraction, sanitisation, and drying. PPE required for handlers.
• Category 3 — Black Water — From river flooding, sewage backup, storm drain overflow, and any water that has been standing long enough to develop microbial contamination. Contains dangerous pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Hepatitis A, and leptospirosis bacteria. Requires full decontamination, affected porous materials must be removed, and air scrubbing is necessary. Full PPE mandatory.

Most natural flooding in Ireland is Category 3. Even if the water looks relatively clean, river and surface water carries agricultural runoff, sewage, road contaminants, and microbial pathogens. Professional assessment and remediation is essential.

Our Flood Cleanup Process

1. Emergency Response — Call +353 (47) 37427. We dispatch a team with industrial extraction equipment. For most locations in Ireland, we can be on site within 4 to 8 hours. In flood event situations affecting multiple properties, we scale our response with additional crews and equipment.
2. Assessment and Documentation — Before any extraction begins, we document the damage with photographs and video for insurance purposes. We assess the water category, measure the extent of the flooding using moisture meters and thermal imaging, and determine which materials are salvageable and which must be removed.
3. Water Extraction — We deploy industrial submersible pumps capable of extracting up to 5,000 litres per hour, truck-mounted extraction units for large volumes, and wet vacuum systems for residual water. The goal is to remove standing water as quickly as possible to prevent further damage.
4. Content Removal and Protection — Salvageable contents (furniture, documents, electronics, personal items) are removed, catalogued, and stored. Items requiring specialist drying or restoration are separated. Non-salvageable items are documented for insurance and disposed of.
5. Strip-Out — For Category 2 and 3 water, contaminated porous materials must be removed. This typically includes plasterboard (cut to at least 300mm above the visible waterline), saturated insulation, carpet and underlay, and any timber that shows signs of rot or irreversible swelling. Strip-out is documented photographically for insurance.
6. Sanitisation and Decontamination — All surfaces that have been in contact with flood water are treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. For Category 3 water, this includes fogging with hospital-grade disinfectant, surface application of biocides, and ATP testing to verify decontamination levels. This step is critical — skipping it leads to mould, bacterial contamination, and ongoing health risks.
7. Structural Drying — Industrial dehumidifiers and air movers are positioned to accelerate the drying of walls, floors, subfloors, and structural timbers. Moisture levels are monitored daily using pin-type and capacitance moisture meters. Drying continues until all materials reach their target moisture content (typically below 15% for timber, below 5% for masonry). This phase takes 5 to 14 days depending on the building construction and the extent of saturation.
8. Clearance and Handover — Once target moisture levels are achieved, we conduct a final inspection, produce a clearance report with moisture readings, and hand the property over for reinstatement works (replastering, flooring, decoration). We coordinate with contractors as needed.

Insurance Support

Flood damage claims are among the most complex and disputed in the insurance industry. Having thorough documentation from day one makes the difference between a smooth claim and a protracted dispute. Optus Glean provides:

• Pre-cleanup photographic and video documentation of all damage
• Written assessment of water category, damage extent, and scope of works
• Daily moisture monitoring logs throughout the drying period
• Itemised inventory of removed and disposed materials
• ATP and microbial test results for decontamination verification
• Final clearance report with moisture readings confirming safe levels
• Itemised invoicing compatible with insurance claim formats

We liaise directly with loss adjusters and insurance assessors. Our documentation is designed to meet the standards that insurers require, reducing the risk of claim disputes and accelerating settlement.

Residential and Commercial Flood Response

Optus Glean provides flood cleanup for all property types:

• Homes and apartments — Burst pipes, appliance leaks, roof failures, and natural flooding. We understand the personal impact and work to restore your home as quickly as possible.
• Commercial offices — Water damage to IT equipment, documents, flooring, and furniture. We prioritise critical areas to minimise business disruption.
• Retail units — Stock damage, shopfront flooding, basement flooding. We work outside trading hours where possible.
• Hotels and hospitality — Guest room flooding, plant room leaks, basement flooding. We coordinate with your operations team to minimise guest impact.
• Healthcare facilities — HIQA-compliant decontamination. Medical equipment protection. Priority response for patient-facing areas.
• Industrial units — Large-volume extraction for warehouses, factories, and workshops. Our industrial cleaning team handles large-scale flood events.

For properties that have suffered flood damage and are now vacant, our carpet and floor cleaning services can restore flooring that has been affected by water but not beyond repair.

Preventing Secondary Damage

The flood itself causes the initial damage, but secondary damage — mould, rot, corrosion, and structural weakening — causes the long-term problems. Every day of delay increases secondary damage exponentially:

• 24 hours — Mould spores begin to germinate on wet surfaces
• 48 hours — Visible mould growth begins on organic materials
• 72 hours — Mould colonies establish and release spores into the air
• 1 week — Timber begins to warp, swell, and show early signs of rot
• 2 weeks — Plaster crumbles, metal corrodes, adhesives fail, and structural integrity is compromised

Professional flood response within the first 24 to 48 hours can prevent the majority of secondary damage and reduce total restoration costs by 40 to 60%. This is why speed of response is critical, and why Optus Glean operates a 24/7 emergency line.