After floodwaters have gone over or into a water well, the well must be determined safe to operate and properly disinfected before the water can be used for drinking again. Do not use the water for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing hands, or brushing teeth. Contact a well or pump contractor for an inspection.
If your private well has flooded, do not use water from it before:
- The floodwaters have receded from the wellhead and your plumbing system.
- You have determined there is no exposed or damaged wiring or damage to the well.
- You have disinfected the well and your plumbing system.
- You have sampled your water and received a lab report confirming that the disinfected water contains no harmful organisms.
Instructions for collecting water in a sterile container (supplied by the local health department or testing laboratory) and submitting it can be obtained from your local health department or state certified local lab. Call 1-800-426-4791 (Safe Drinking Water Hotline) to find a testing lab near you.
Instructions for emergency disinfection of private wells and home plumbing systems can be found in the EPA document “What to Do After the Flood” at this link.
Private Wells During a Power Outage
If you have your own well and depend on it for drinking water, you will need to store water for use during power outages. Store a minimum of 14 gallons per person for 2 weeks. More is better. Some of this water may be stored in the freezer to help keep the freezer cold longer. Consider installing a hand pump on your well or make the electric pump portable generator friendly and purchase a generator.