[Logo: EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency.]
Drilled, driven or bored wells are best disinfected by a well or pump contractor, because it is difficult for the private owner to thoroughly disinfect these wells.
If you suspect that your well may be contaminated, contact your local or state health department or agriculture extension agent for specific advice on disinfecting your well. The suggestions below are intended to supplement flood precautions issues by state and local health authorities.
WARNING!
DO NOT TURN ON THE PUMP. There is danger of electrical shock and damage to your well or pump if they have been flooded.
WARNING!
DO NOT WASH WITH WELL WATER. People drinking or washing with water from a private well that has been flooded will risk getting sick.
Well and Pump Inspection
Flood Conditions at the Well
Swiftly moving flood water can carry large debris that could loosen well hardware, dislodge well construction materials or distort casing. Coarse sediment in the flood waters could erode pump components. If the well is not tightly capped, sediment and flood water could enter the well and contaminate it. Wells that are more than ten years old or less than fifty feet deep are likely to be contaminated, even if there is no apparent damage. Floods may cause some wells to collapse.
Electrical System
After flood waters have receded and the pump and electrical system have dried, do not turn on the equipment until the wiring system has been checked by a qualified electrician, well contractor, or pump contractor. If the pump’s control box was submerged during the flood, all electrical components must be dry before electrical service can be restored. Get assistance in turning the pump on from a well or pump contractor.
Pump Operation
All pumps and their electrical components can be damaged by sediment and flood water. The pump, including the valves and gears, will need to be cleaned of silt and sand. If pumps are not cleaned and properly lubricated, they can burn out. Get assistance from a well or pump contractor who will be able to clean, repair, or maintain different types of pumps.
Emergency Disinfection of Wells that have been Flooded
Before Disinfection
Check the condition of your well. Make sure there is no exposed or damaged wiring. If you notice any damage, call a professional before the disinfection process.
Materials Needed
- One gallon of non-scented household liquid bleach.
- Rubber gloves.
- Eye protection.
- Old clothes.
- A funnel.
[Each of the following steps is accompanied by a photo illustration.]
Step One
If your water is muddy or cloudy, run the water from an outside spigot with a hose attached until the water becomes clear and free of sediments.
Step Two
Determine what type of well you have and how to pour the bleach into the well. Some wells have a sanitary seal with either an air vent or a plug that can be removed. If it is a bored or dug well, the entire cover can be lifted off to provide a space for pouring the bleach into the well.
Step Three
Take the gallon of bleach and funnel (if needed) and carefully pour the bleach down into the well casing.
Step Four
After the bleach has been added, run water from an outside hose into the well casing until you smell chloring coming from the hose. Then turn off the outside hose.
Step Five
Turn on all cold-water faucets, inside and outside of the house, until the chlorine odor is detected in each faucet, then shut them all off. If you have a water treatment system, switch it to bypass before turning on the indoor faucets.
Step Six
Wait six to twenty-four hours before turning the faucets back on. It is important not to drink, cook, bathe, or wash with this water during the time period; it contains high amounts of chlorine.
Step Seven
Once the waiting period is up, turn on an outside spigot with hose attached, and run the water into a safe area where it will not disturb plants, lakes, streams, or septic tanks. Run the water until there is no longer a chlorine odor. Turn the water off.
Step Eight
The system should now be disinfected, and you can now use the water.
Step Nine
Have your water tested for bacteria seven to ten days after disinfection.
Sampling and Testing the Well Water
Contact the local health department to have well water samples and tested for contamination or call your state laboratory certification officer to find a certified lab near you. You can get this number from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-8-0-0-4-2-6-4-7-9-1.
If the health department issues sterile bottles for the private well owner to collect water samples, follow all instructions for the use of these bottles.
After the pump is back in operation, the health department should sample and test the water at regular intervals.
CAUTION
Because of the extensive flood area and the speed and direction of ground water flow, your well may not be a safe source of water for many months after the flood. The well can become contaminated with bacteria or other contaminants. Waste water from malfunctioning septic tanks or chemicals seeping into the ground can contaminate the ground water even after the water was tested and found to be safe. It will be necessary to take long-range precautions, including repeated testing, to protect the safety of drinking water.
Concerns and Advisories
- If in doubt about the well water supply, follow health department drinking and bathing advisories.
- Remember that there is a danger of electrical shock from any electrical device that has been flooded; consult a certified electrician. Rubber boots and gloves are not adequate protection from electric shock.
- Well disinfection will not provide protection from pesticides, heavy metals, and other types of non-biological contamination. If such contamination is suspected, due to the nearness of these contaminant sources, special treatment is required.
- Information on home water treatment units, also called point-of-use and point-of-entry units, is available from U.S. E P A by phoning the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-8-0-0-4-2-6-4-7-9-1.
- If you observe chemical containers, including barrels and drums, that have moved to your property, call your state or county health department or the Superfund Hotline at 1-8-0-0-4-2-4-9-3-4-6.
- For information on long-term water quality conditions in the area, consult the state or county health department.
- Well owners may have information about the construction or testing of their well, and this information will be helpful to the health department in determining water quality conditions.
- Septic systems should not be used immediately after floods. Drain fields will not work until underground water has receded. Septic lines may have broken during the flood.
Office of Water (4 6 0 6 M). www.epa.gov/safewater. E P A 8 1 6 F 05 021 August 2005.