Safe Drinking Water after Days of Flooding

This year has brought us many ups and downs. Many parts of the country suffered from flooding, threatening lives and homes. Residents of Texas and Florida have experienced the power of flooding and are still trying to put their homes and communities back together. Extreme flooding can cause serious problems such as septic issues and damage to pipes and structural issues, which can compromise the quality of our drinking water.
How safe is our water after a flood? What types of drinking water contamination can occur?
Here are some things that you NEED to do after a flood to make sure your family doesn’t drink contaminated water:

• Drink and use stored water. Keep enough water somewhere in your home which can last for seven days in the event that an emergency happens. After a flood, this water comes in handy for drinking and cooking. You will know that it is safe.
• Test your well water as soon as you can. Well owners have to test and treat water on their own so if there is an issue after flooding, you’re responsible for dealing with the contamination. Don’t use your well water until you’ve tested it. Agricultural runoff, sewage, bacteria, and chemicals can make their way into your well and must be identified before treatment. We can help test and treat your well water.
• Do you have a home water filter? After a flood, you should disinfect your filter. Need some help? We’ll be right there.
• Boil your water if your home doesn’t have a water filtration system and your local municipality tells you to. These alerts should always be taken seriously to avoid major health problems stemming from contaminated drinking water.

Home drinking water systems can come in handy after floods to ensure that your water is safe to drink and use while your community overcomes the many obstacles it will face. Besides just water contamination, officials may be preoccupied with structures and more obvious public safety issues.
By following the recommendation and guidelines of the Water Quality Association, you will feel better knowing that your household can control the quality and safety of your drinking water even during uncertain and difficult times.