septicsystems

After the Fire: Water Well Safety

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Returning home after a wildfire can be overwhelming and dangerous. We gathered some safety tips for re-entering a burned area and how to care for your well.

Tips for re-entering an area that has been affected by wildfires:

  • Avoid damaged or fallen power lines.
  • Be careful of ash pits (depression filled with hot ashes) and burned trees. Serious burns or injuries can occur.
  • Wear protective gear before sifting through debris to avoid breathing in harmful dust or ash.
  • Hazardous household materials like automotive fluids, paint, solvents, etc. should be disposed of properly to protect people and the environment.
  • If you suspect electrical damage or gas leaks, do not try to use your electricity or anything with a flame. Instead, use a flashlight for your light source and report problems to your local utility. DO NOT stay in the home as there is a risk of electrical shock or explosion.
  • If sewage is visible, limit access to the area and contact your local health department for assistance.
  • Do not turn on the water if you notice damage to your wellhead or well components above ground. Contact a licensed well contractor to assess and repair damages.

After a wildfire, underground well components like the pump may not be harmed. However, if your home and yard have been burned, it is necessary to complete a visual inspection of your well system and have any damage repaired before turning on the water.

Check the following for damage:

  • Wellhead– casing, cap or seal, and any other above ground piping
  • Tank– pressure or storage tanks (cisterns)
  • Electrical– wires and control box
  • Treatment– filters/housing, tanks, chemicals

Contact a licensed well contractor immediately for repairs. Shock chlorination or disinfection should be performed after repairs are made. Your well contractor will determine if this is required. It is important to note that shock chlorination/disinfection will not remove metals, pesticides, or other types of non-biological contamination. Do not drink or cook with the water until a water test is performed and confirms no harmful contaminants are in your water.

Download our wellcare® information sheet on Wildfires & Wells from our website to continue reading about water testing and caring for your water treatment and septic systems after a wildfire.

Hotline HOT Topic: What products can I use with a water well system?

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Before you do your summer chores, you should read more…

As the weather gets warmer in most of the country, you will be spending more time outdoors. Our wellcare® Hotline has received several calls on what products are okay to use near or with a water well system.

The easiest answer is, do not use chemicals. Pesticides and fertilizers can reach aquifers through the soil by way of rain or snow recharge. Not using chemicals may not always be realistic, but we have put together some tips to help lower the risk of contamination to your drinking water:

Outdoors

The concern – Proper storage and disposal of products and using chemicals near your well.

  • Storing/disposing of chemicals– If you have open containers, store them as far away from your well as possible (at least 100ft.), in their original container with labels intact, and tightly closed. Clean up any spills immediately. Bring unwanted pesticides to your local household hazardous waste collection program. Try using earth911.com to find locations near you where you can recycle.
  • Car washing– Choose non-toxic, biodegradable soap that is free of phosphates, fragrance, chlorine, and petroleum-based ingredients. Avoid using acid-based wheel cleaners. Wash and rinse your car away from your well.
  • Lawn care– Fertilizers can be beneficial to your lawn and garden. However, many fertilizers contain nitrogen, which can convert to harmful nitrate. There are several alternatives to chemical fertilizers available at most garden centers that use natural materials to enrich soil.
  • Pest control– Pesticides can contaminate water resources, so it is best to use natural products like citrus peels, cucumbers, vinegar, traps, essential oils, or plant herbs like peppermint. The list of remedies seems endless!
  • Weeds– It may be easier to use weed killer, but it isn’t the safest option. Instead, try pulling the weeds, spot treat with salt, lemon juice (just don’t accidentally spray your flowers or lawn), vinegar, or boiling water.

Indoors

The concern – Anything that goes down the drain if you have a septic system. We recommend not using bleach products as this can kill the good bacteria in your septic. In turn, if the septic doesn’t work properly in can contaminate groundwater – your well water! You will also want to be careful with cleaning products that contain bleach as well.

For more tips on what not to put down the drain, read our information sheet on Your Septic System.