Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida will bring a lot of rain to Northeast Georgia in the next few days. If you are on private well water be sure to check out the following UGA publications. A flood is described as “water from heavy rain, storms, or hurricanes that spills or seeps into a household drinking water well,” (UGA publication- Ensuring Safe Private Well Water for Household).
A few things you should do after the flood:
- READ- Circular 1124 – Ensuring Safe Private Well Water for Household Use After a Flood — https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1124
- Inspect the well
- Inspect the electrical system
- Decontaminate the well
For more information please read the following publications. They will provide information if someone has a well that is contaminated with flood water.
- Circulation 858-2 – Testing for Water Quality — https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C858-2&title=Testing%20for%20Water%20Quality#Which
- Circular 858-8 – Disinfecting Your Well Water: Shock Chlorination — https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C858-4&title=Disinfecting%20Your%20Well%20Water:%20Shock%20Chlorination
- Bulletin 939 – Water Quality and Common Treatments for Private Drinking Water Systems — https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B939&title=Water%20Quality%20and%20Common%20Treatments%20for%20Private%20Drinking%20Water%20System
Thanks to Gary Hawkins, University of Georgia Water Resource Management and Policy Specialist, for the information!