NGWA reports as many as 67,000 water wells may be contaminated throughout Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

(WESTERVILLE, OH — September 1, 2020) After heavy storms made landfall in the southern and eastern United States last week, the National Ground Water Association is urging all private well owners to be aware of potential contamination of their wells due to floodwaters.

NGWA has compiled data showing more than 674,000 households relying on wells were potentially affected in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas with flooding from Hurricanes Marco and Laura. The household count includes those on domestic wells in 219 flooded counties in these four states, per Census Bureau data*.

Based on the results of an earlier detailed study of wells flooded by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 in 10 North Carolina counties, the number of domestic wells potentially affected by floodwater in the flooded counties may be as many as 10 percent of the number of water well-supplied households** in the counties experiencing flooding***.

The breakdown of households with wells potentially affected by flooding in the four abovenamed states are as follows, with the number of impacted counties listed first, followed by the estimated number of households in those counties drawing well water, and, lastly, the estimated number of flood-impacted wells:

• Arkansas — 75 counties — 174,667 estimated households — 17,500 estimated wells
• Louisiana — 64 counties — 182, 926 estimated households — 18,300 estimated wells
• Mississippi — 24 counties — 63,237 estimated households — 6,300 estimated wells
• Texas — 56 counties — 253,238 estimated households — 25,300 estimated wells.

The totals for these four states are 219 counties, 674,068 estimated households, and 67,400 estimated wells.

The flooding of water well systems can lead to permanent system damage and the possibility of water contamination. Exposure to E. coli, coliform, and other pathogenic microbes from human and animal fecal matter have occurred following major flooding events.

Private wells that are susceptible to flooding or potential contamination include:

• Wells that are older, completed in areas now designated as floodplains
• Wells in which the casing is not finished above the high-water level
• Wells not adequately capped or sealed, or older wells with shallow grout or insufficient surface seal
• Wells in areas structurally unstable, or where previous erosion or subsidence has compromised the structure and landform.

NGWA’s WellOwner.org provides crucial information to water well owners on best practices to protect their systems before and after storms. Utilizing the knowledge of the industry’s top professionals, the site offers step-by-step instructions on maintenance procedures and a database of certified NGWA contractors for testing and repairs.

“Having a trusted resource on flooding procedures is crucial to keeping your water well safe and operational after a storm,” said Ronnie Hensley, a former NGWA Board of Directors member and director of engineered water at Gicon Pumps and Equipment Inc. in Abernathy, Texas. “The steps laid out by NGWA will help well owners keep their water safe and potentially save them thousands of dollars in repairs.”

NGWA urges all well owners who are seeking more information on water well safety and maintenance to visit WellOwner.org for more details on how to test, tend, and treat their water well system.

WellOwner.org is supported by a grant from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

* Based on last census with representative results for household water sources outside metropolitan areas nationwide: 1990 American Housing Survey.

** In some cases, a domestic well may supply more than one household.

*** National Ground Water Association. 2002. Field Evaluation of Emergency Well Disinfection for Contamination Events; Final Project Report for U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.

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The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.