Water Testing CT: Well owners whose wells were covered with water in the wake of Hurricane Sandy need to sanitize their well before using the water for drinking or washing.
County officials in many of the affected areas of New Jersey and New York, are stating:
“Warning!
Do Not Wash
With or Drink Well Water.”
- People drinking or washing with water from a private well that has been flooded will risk getting sick.
- Flood Conditions at the Well – Swiftly moving floodwater can carry large debris that could loosen well hardware, dislodge well construction materials or distort casing.
- Coarse sediment in the floodwaters could erode pump components. If the well is not tightly capped, sediment and floodwater could enter the well and contaminate it.
- Wells that are more than 10 years old or less than 50 feet deep are likely to be contaminated, even if there is no apparent damage. Floods may cause some wells to collapse
The first step these affected CT homeowners need to take, after making sure their electrical service to the well pump is safe, is to sanitize their well. After the sanitizing process has been completed, they then need to test their well water for bacteria to make sure the water is safe for drinking and washing once again.
