National Ground Water Association

(WESTERVILLE, OH — June 21, 2012) After a flood, owners of household water wells should take precautions to make sure the water is safe and the well is in good operating condition, the National Ground Water Association said today.

When the well casing — the vertical pipe that extends above the ground’s surface — is topped by floodwater, it’s assumed the well has been flooded. An obvious concern is that floodwater loaded with bacteria, chemicals, or other pollutants may have gotten into the well.

A less obvious concern is electrical shock if a nonsubmersible pump or any part of the well electrical system is flooded.

After a flood:

1. Stay away from the well pump while it’s flooded to avoid electrical shock
2. Do not drink the water from the well or use it for washing to avoid becoming sick
3. It’s best to get help from a qualified water well contractor or pump installer to:

• Clean and turn on the pump
• Flush the well
• Disinfect the well
• Perform any other necessary maintenance.

Water wells are specialized systems that require knowledge and expertise to repair, clean, and disinfect. If your well has been flooded, use bottled water until a qualified water well system contractor can check out your well system. You also can boil water to kill any bacteria, but boiling water may not remove other types of contamination that entered your well due to flooding.

To find a licensed water well contractor, use Contractor Lookup on NGWA’s WellOwner.org Web site.

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NGWA, a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals — contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers — is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water.

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