Flooding

• Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.
• Have an electrician check the house’s electrical system before turning the power on again.
• If the house has been closed up for several days, enter briefly to open doors and windows to let the house air out for a while (at least 30 minutes) before you stay for any length of time.
• If your home has been flooded and has been closed up for several days, assume your home has mold. It may also be contaminated with sewage.
• Materials such as cleaning products, paint, batteries, and damaged fuel containers are hazardous. Check with local authorities for assistance with disposal to avoid risk.
• Make sure your food is safe. Unsafe food can make you sick even if it looks, smells, and tastes normal. When in doubt, throw it out. Throw away:
  • Food that may have come in contact with flood or storm water.
  • Perishable foods that have not been refrigerated properly due to power outages.
  • Food items with an unusual odor, color, or texture.

• Contact the health department to see if your water supply might be contaminated.

• If you have electricity and an electrician has determined that it’s safe to turn it on, use a “wet-dry” shop vacuum, an electric-powered water transfer pump, or sump pump to remove standing water. If you are operating equipment in wet areas, be sure to wear rubber boots.
• If you do not have electricity, or it is not safe to turn it on, you can use a portable generator to power equipment to remove standing water. Note: Never operate the gasoline engine inside a home or other partially enclosed structure, even if the windows and doors are open. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Use fans and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture. Fans should be placed at a window or door to blow the air outwards rather than inwards, so not to spread the mold.
• Have your home heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system checked and cleaned by a maintenance or service professional who is experienced in mold clean-up before you turn it on.
• Ensure that crawl spaces in basements have proper drainage to limit water seepage. Ventilate to allow the area to dry out.

After a flood, homeowners should take precautions to make sure their drinking water is safe, and their well is in good operating condition. An obvious concern is that flood water loaded with bacteria, chemicals or other pollutants may have gotten into the well. A less obvious concern is electrical shock if a non-submersible pump or any part of the well electrical system is flooded.

Water wells are specialized systems that require knowledge and expertise to repair and disinfect. If your well has been flooded, and you are uncertain of the operation of your well, please use a licensed contractor.  If you are familiar with your well system, below are instructions for flushing and disinfecting.  It may be necessary to repeat the disinfection and testing process several times to ensure that your well is free of bacterial contamination. Don’t consume water from the well until you know that it is safe.

Learn how often you should test your well for bacteria and how to test your well.