When a flood hits, your well water is in danger. Most floods carry a vast amount of contaminants and pollutants, and if they infiltrate your well water, your family’s health is at risk.
Important Advisories to Follow
As soon as the flood has dissipated, it can be tempting to use your well water, but that could turn out to be a detrimental mistake. Here’s what you should do instead:
- First and foremost, never, ever drink the well water or use it bathe or wash hands. You don’t know what contaminants have made their way into your CT well water, and you don’t want to risk it.
- Second, do not, for any reason, turn on the well pump. There is a good chance your pump was damaged in the flood, and there is a danger of electric shock if you turn it on.
- Third, contact Greco & Haines as soon as you can so we can follow the proper post-flood procedures to ensure you and your family stay safe.
What to Do with a Flooded Well
It should always be assumed that your Connecticut well water has been contaminated if your well is shallow and any area near you has become flooded, your well casing itself becomes flooded, or you notice a change in the taste or color of your well water after a flood. A surprising amount of contamination can live in flood water, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, and chemicals, and you never want to just assume your well water is safe. Dealing with well water after a flood is truly a case of better safe than sorry. We recommend finding an alternative water source until the following steps have been followed:
- Step 1: Test the Water. This is the only way to know for sure what you are dealing with. If the test comes back positive for E. coli or other dangerous contaminants (we will let you know which ones are not safe), then proceed to step two.
- Step 2: Disinfect the Well. Once you know your CT well water is not safe to use, you need to thoroughly disinfect the entire plumbing system. We have the materials, equipment, and know-how to eradicate any contamination.
- Step 3: Inspect the Well and Pump. We will inspect all parts of your well, including the wiring system, pump, valves, and gears, and make sure there is no debris that could cause damage, either immediately or in the future.
How to Prevent a Flooded Well Going Forward
In Connecticut, a flooded well is not rare; however, there are steps you can take to help prevent one from occurring in the future. We can evaluate your current well system and recommend improvements to its design and structure—such as raising the well casing pipe—to help minimize flood damage during the next big storm.
Since 1963, we have been providing flood service to residents of Connecticut. When flooding occurs, never take a chance on your family’s safety; call on the experts at Greco & Haines.