Water Well Hurricane Prep

Water is a critical consideration for daily life, but it is particularly essential during natural disasters such as hurricanes and tropical storms. If you’re reading this as a hurricane is forecasted for your city and your property has a water well, it’s important to know how to protect it from storm-related damage and access to fresh, high-quality water for your home or business. One of the dangers of hurricanes is that the resulting floodwaters can contaminate your well, requiring prompt water testing and treatment, and flying debris can cause structural damage that necessitates immediate well pump repair services.

Here, North Florida Water Systems Inc shares tips to help you prepare your water well for a hurricane. Contact our well pump repair company today schedule well service for your residential or commercial property!

Before The Hurricane

Whether your hand operated water pump was recently installed or you’ve had a well on your property for years, your well should be as prepared as possible to prevent damage to its electrical system and contaminants from entering your Florida well water. In order to protect your well during a hurricane, the well should be in good working order and of sufficient depth to prevent contaminants from migrating into the water table. Review the Florida Division of Emergency Management hurricane supply checklist for extra preparation steps.

Protect The Wellhead & Well Pump

Before the projected hurricane arrival date, take a look at your well system and pay special attention to the wellhead and well pump. Cover the wellhead and pump before heavy rains and winds to protect the equipment from being struck or otherwise damaged by flying debris. If your home or business sits on low-lying ground or in an area prone to flooding, ensure the well cap is certified as flood-proof to keep contaminants from entering the system.

Safeguard Electrical Components

If you plan on being away from your property during the hurricane or you lose power during the storm, be sure to turn off the well pump at the circuit breaker and leave it off for the duration of the hurricane. Power outages can produce spikes and surges in the electrical system’s lines, and, as a result, they can cause damage to your well’s electrical components. If your pump does not have a surge suppressor, it’s time to install one.

Stock Up On Water

One of the first steps you’ll want to take while you prepare your property for a hurricane is to stock up on water. Flooding can commonly affect North Florida properties during hurricanes, which is why our water well repair experts recommend our clients stock up on water safe for consumption or purified spring water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. But how much spring water should you set aside? As a general rule of thumb, you should stock up a gallon of water or more per person per day. For non-consumable water, you should also fill up any bathtubs and sink basins on your property for water to use while cleaning, flushing toilets, and washing your hands.

After The Hurricane

The exact tasks you should perform after a hurricane will depend on whether damage occurred to your well or any of its components or lines, the extent of the damage, and the degree of flooding in your area. You should exercise extreme caution when turning the power back on to your well pump!

Inspect The Water Well

Once the hurricane has passed and any storm-like weather conditions have ceased, visually inspect your water well and the well equipment. If no flooding occurred on your property, take a look at each aspect of the well for damage. If you can spot damage or you’re unsure whether your well system is damaged, contact North Florida Water Systems Inc promptly to schedule well pump repair service. If you see or suspect damage, do not turn on or attempt to operate the pump until after you’ve spoken with a qualified well technician.

Avoid Using Electrical Systems

If your well pump is flooded after the hurricane, chances are that the electrical system of your well pump is saturated with water. If this occurs, do not attempt to turn on the system. Even if the well pump appears to be dry, there is still a high possibility that moisture may have accumulated within the internal unit. Turning it on could increase the risk of an electrical fire on your property and electrocution. Our water pump repair contractors will inspect the well pump and ensure your system is safe for use moving forward.

Disinfect Your Water Well

If you’ve inspected your well system and cannot spot any signs of structural damage, we recommend that you still err on the side of caution, just in case any contaminants have penetrated the well. That means it’s time to disinfect your well system! Inspect the well casing or well cap looking for any presence of disturbance or cracks in the wall of the cap or casing. If you spot any signs of erosion, it can indicate that your well has been subject to floodwater intrusion. In any case, be sure to contact a licensed well water treatment company for prompt and precise water treatment services. Our well repair contractors will test each component of your system and the water itself and perform all necessary disinfection treatments to restore high-quality water to your property.