What To Do If Your Water Well Floods

It may seem like a bizarre idea — worrying about more water getting into your water — but a flooded well can be a big deal. Not only does it expose your water to contamination, but it can also damage your water pump and may threaten the integrity of the whole well water system.

To help you avoid more damage, North Florida Water Systems Inc provides these water well flooding tips, but be sure to schedule an appointment for fast repairs and water testing.

Do Not Use The Water

Flooding stirs up sediment and refuse, which can host various contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemicals. In addition, as floodwater moves through an area, it can pick up human and animal waste, pesticides, garbage, and more. Once the floodwaters get into your well, you should not use it. While you obviously shouldn’t drink contaminated well water, neither should you bathe, wash dishes, or clean clothes in it. Exposing yourself, your family, or even your animals to contaminated water can result in severe sickness.

Cut Power To The Pump

Cutting power to the pump will make the well unusable and prevent accidental exposure to the contaminated water. Cutting the power can also help prevent damage to the electrical components of the pump or prevent possible electrocution. Once the floodwaters have receded and the area is safe, you can inspect the pump to determine if water well pump repairs are necessary.

Disinfect Your Well Water System

Even with the power cut, floodwaters likely exposed your entire well water system to contaminants. To be on the safe side, clean out the whole system to avoid potential illness. Often, shock chlorination is used to disinfect wells as it will kill off most contaminants. However, because of the exact nature of correctly disinfecting a well system, we suggest relying on a water treatment company that can provide disinfection services and additional water testing and treatment.

Test The Water

Even after your well has been disinfected, it’s important to have well water testing and any necessary water treatment performed. Not only will this give you peace of mind, but it will ensure that everything is properly functioning in your well again. Afterward, you can go back to your routine water testing schedule, which should be about once a year unless additional flooding or construction occurs in the area.