Your water well installation is only equipped to filter and disperse water drawn from the ground. If floodwater fills your well after heavy rains, it could contaminate your water supply and pose risks to your health. Here’s a closer look at how to handle a flooded well at your home.

What to Do if Flooding Contaminates Your Water Well Installation

1. Stop Using the Water

The first thing to do is stop using the water and turn off the electrical supply to the well. Floodwater contains contaminants that the well may not be able to remove on its own, and debris carried by the water can damage the well cap and casing, allowing unfiltered water in. Drinking contaminated water may cause severe illness, and using it for laundry may lead to rashes and skin irritation.

2. Find Another Source of Drinkable Water

The next step is to acquire drinking water you can use until the appropriate water well services have been completed. Store-bought bottled or gallons of water may be necessary if you can’t fill empty jugs from a neighbor’s safe water supply. In addition to drinking, use this safe supply for tasks like brushing teeth, cleaning, washing dishes, and doing the minimum amount of laundry you can get away with.

3. Assess the Damage

When the waters have receded, visually check your well for problems so you can give the water well professional a better idea of what to expect. Look for signs of collapse, missing parts, a cracked casing, or debris in and around the well. Even if nothing looks damaged, sediment and contaminated water could have still entered the well, which may wear away at the components and pose risks to your health.

As you take care of these steps, call a well installation and service company you can trust. Gainous Well Drilling in Cairo, GA, will assess damages, perform repairs, disinfect your system, and test it to ensure it’s safe again. Their drilling contractors have over 50 years of combined experience, and their family-owned and -operated business is licensed and bonded. Read more about their services online and call (229) 377-7883 to arrange a visit today.