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Flood waters may be contaminating private wells
People who have standing water near their private wells may be in danger of contamination from pollutants carried in floodwaters, health officials warn.
“With recent flooding on area rivers, owners should be aware that their drinking water can become unsafe,” states Rick Wietersen, Groundwater Program Manager with the Rock County Health Department.
Bacterial, viral, parasitic or chemical contamination can enter the top of your well, or seep down along your well's casing and make your drinking water unsafe. Even if flood waters have not risen over the top of your well casing, your neighbor's well may have been inundated, allowing contamination to migrate, underground, to your well also. In addition, if your well is not deeply cased, it may be more susceptible to contamination. Contaminated water can enter shallow porous aquifers if nearby areas become flooded.
“If you suspect your water could be impacted you should obtain water from a known safe source for drinking, cooking and food preparation,” Wietersen said.
Residents can try getting water from a neighbor's well, which has been determined to be safe, from a municipal water system, or from the grocery store. If you can't find a convenient source of safe water you can boil your well water for five minutes before use.
Signs of a contaminated well include:
Well casing becomes inundated.
A taste, color or sediment change in the water.
You are in an area that has been flooded.
The well is shallow cased.
Free bacteria tests for residents affected by the flood will be available at the health department. Water sample test kits are available at both Rock County Health Department offices. For more information call (608)757-5441 or (608)364-2010.
For additional information visit http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/health/InjuryPrevention/Disasterhealthsafety/flooding.htm
“With recent flooding on area rivers, owners should be aware that their drinking water can become unsafe,” states Rick Wietersen, Groundwater Program Manager with the Rock County Health Department.
Bacterial, viral, parasitic or chemical contamination can enter the top of your well, or seep down along your well's casing and make your drinking water unsafe. Even if flood waters have not risen over the top of your well casing, your neighbor's well may have been inundated, allowing contamination to migrate, underground, to your well also. In addition, if your well is not deeply cased, it may be more susceptible to contamination. Contaminated water can enter shallow porous aquifers if nearby areas become flooded.
“If you suspect your water could be impacted you should obtain water from a known safe source for drinking, cooking and food preparation,” Wietersen said.
Residents can try getting water from a neighbor's well, which has been determined to be safe, from a municipal water system, or from the grocery store. If you can't find a convenient source of safe water you can boil your well water for five minutes before use.
Signs of a contaminated well include:
Well casing becomes inundated.
A taste, color or sediment change in the water.
You are in an area that has been flooded.
The well is shallow cased.
Free bacteria tests for residents affected by the flood will be available at the health department. Water sample test kits are available at both Rock County Health Department offices. For more information call (608)757-5441 or (608)364-2010.
For additional information visit http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/health/InjuryPrevention/Disasterhealthsafety/flooding.htm
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