As water travels around the earth, it can pick up a number of contaminants. When heavy rains or flooding occurs as it will in the upcoming winter months, private drinking water wells can become contaminated with the excess waters.
If your private well water source was covered with floodwater, is located very near a flooded area, or there is a change in quality - odor or taste - assume that there may be contamination, take all precautions and get it tested as soon as possible.
Contact your Health Department district office or local health officer for information on private well water in your area and for disinfection instructions. If you think that your drinking water may be affected there are many safety guidelines to follow to help you stay safe until you can purchase the right drinking water treatment system.
Until a test confirms that your water is safe, boil water for one minute before use in drinking, cooking, making juice or ice, washing fruits and vegetables and brushing teeth.
Shower with caution when on a boil-water notice. Avoid getting water in eyes, mouth and wounds. Do not allow children to swallow bath water if on a boil-water notice.
If there is a smell of petroleum or fuel, do not drink or use water at all for cooking, bathing or washing. Use bottled water or water from a known safe source.
Residents who get their drinking water from a public system should look for boil water or other instructions put out by their own system. With so many differences in concentrations of contaminants from well to well, households need to be diligent and test their own wells. A laboratory will report most results in measurement units such as mg/L, milligrams per liter; or ug/L, micrograms per liter.
Well water quality can change over time, so a good well test result doesn't mean the water you're drinking today will be safe tomorrow. Even if the home has a water treatment system, it should be tested regularly. Machinery ages through time as it is used and keeping it maintained is also important. An improperly maintained well water treatment system can also pose health risks.
Homeowners with private wells flooded or damaged by a storm should consider their wells contaminated and disinfect their wells before resuming their use. This is at the forefront of many peoples mind as many states deal with the effects left behind from Hurricane Irene.
For more information about drinking water safety after a flood, go to the Health Department's website anytime or call your local well water professional during regular business hours. Trust the water experts and make sure to ask a professional. Water is important to our health and safety at home.
