WESTERVILLE, Ohio— The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) notes that after a flood, the owners of household water wells should consider three precautions to protect household water wells after flooding, according to a press release.
During a flooding event, contaminated water may have topped and infiltrated the well, carrying with it bacteria, chemicals or other pollutants, said Cliff Treyens, NGWA public awareness director, stated the release.
One should use bottled water until a qualified water well system contractor can check out the well system and disinfect it.
[Related content: NGWA develops best suggested practices for emergency disinfection of flooded residential water wells]
Household water well owners should consider other precautions to protect household water wells after flooding.
Boiling water is intended to kill bacteria, but not to treat chemical contamination, noted the release.
A less obvious, but just as important, concern is electrical shock if a nonsubmersible pump or any part of the well electrical system is flooded. As water wells are specialized systems that require knowledge and expertise to repair, hiring a qualified water well system contractor to check out the well system makes the best sense, adds Treyens.
Household water well owners should consider three precautions to protect household water wells after flooding, including:
Precaution #1 to consider to protect household water wells after flooding: Not drink the water from the well or use it for washing to avoid becoming sick
Precaution #2 to consider to protect household water wells after flooding: Stay away from the well pump while it is flooded to avoid electrical shock
Precaution #3 to consider to protect household water wells after flooding: Get help from a qualified water well contractor or pump installer to:
• Clean and turn on the pump
• Flush the well
• Disinfect the well
• Perform any other necessary maintenance.
It is important to take these three precautions to protect household water wells after flooding.
Read the entire press release here.
