A lot of people around here use well water. Drinking water from a fresh mountain well can be very refreshing. While it may seem like well water is a pure source it’s important to know that there are some ways that it can be contaminated. One of those is by flooding. We have had a lot of rainfall already this year. Let’s talk about how a flood could impact your well.
After a flood event the first thing to do is inspect your well. Check the well head to see if large debris has struck it that could loosen or displace well materials. It’s also possible that sediment has been deposited in the well if the well is not properly sealed. Shallow wells (less than 50 feet) and wells more than 10 years old are more susceptible to contamination from surface water that contains bacteria and other contaminants.
The second item to inspect on your well is the electrical system. Make sure that the electrical system is OFF, either at the breaker or that it is unplugged. Check for moisture in the pump’s electrical box and have the wiring checked by a qualified electrician if the electrical system was flooded.
The third and final thing to check is the well pump. Sediment and flood water can damage the valves and gears of the pump. Contact a licensed water well contractor or certified pump installer for assistance in cleaning and repairing the pump. If the pump is not properly cleaned and lubricated it can burn out.
Surface water from floods can carry bacteria that contaminate your well. Before using the water after a flood event remove the flood water from the well. To do this, determine the depth of the water in your well. Measure the distance from ground level to water level. Subtract this number from the well depth to have the depth of water. Multiply the depth of water by the storage capacity per foot or your well. If you don’t know this value contact the company that installed your well or your local Extension Office. Now you have the volume of water in your well. Run an outside faucet to discard 2 to 3 times the volume of water in your well. If your pump can’t maintain the flow long enough to discharge all the water, let the well recharge and begin pumping again until you have discharged the recommended amount of water.
After you have discharged the well, follow the protocol outlined in the UGA Extension Circular 858-4 for shock chlorination. Shock chlorination will only be effective if the source of contamination has been removed. Flush the well again in the same manner described earlier using an outdoor faucet. If you use an indoor faucet you run the risk of highly chlorinated water in the septic system killing the beneficial bacteria.
Finally test your water for Coliform bacteria and E. coli. The Extension Office has kits available for testing your water. Contact your local Extension Office for more information on Coliform testing or email me at Jacob.Williams@uga.edu.