If you live in an area that was recently flooded, your private well may be in danger of contamination from pollutants carried by flood water or at risk of shock from waterlogged well equipment. Here are some steps you should follow after a flood:
- Do not drink or wash with your well water. You could get sick from contaminants carried into the well by the flood.
- Do not turn on the well pump. There is a danger of electrical shock and damage to your well or pump if they are flooded.
- Contact your licensed well contractor for help in dealing with the impacts of the flood on your water quality and well system.
You should suspect well water contamination any time your well casing becomes flooded, if your well is shallow and you are near areas that have been flooded, or if you notice taste, color, or sediment changes in your water. Find a safe alternative source for drinking, cooking, and washing until a water test proves your well water is safe.
Many times, when your area experiences flooding or a natural disaster, your local health department or state environmental agency will provide free or low-cost testing for well owners. If free or low-cost water testing is not available, please contact the wellcare® Hotline at 888-395-1033 or visit our Well Water Testing web page.
Download our wellcare® information sheet on Managing a Flooded Well for more information.
Disinfecting Your Well
If your system checks out okay following a flood, it will likely require disinfection before the system can be used. We recommend using a licensed well contractor to perform the disinfection procedure. However, if you must perform the procedure yourself, our instructions can be used. Please read all cautions before proceeding. Note: The instructions provided by your local or state environmental agencies supersede our instructions.