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News
Rural
Health Concerns Include Flooded Wells
Posted 19 June 2008
There are thousands of private wells in Iowa. Recent and continued
flooding has affected many of these wells. The Iowa Department of
Public Health (IDPH) urges private well owners to be aware of safety
precautions regarding flooded wells. "If you know or even suspect that
your private well has been compromised by flood waters, you must stop
using that well water immediately," said IDPH Director Tom Newton.
"Contaminated well water should not be used for drinking, cooking,
laundry or bathing." Other safety measures for private well owners who
suspect water contamination include:
* Obtain water known to be safe from another source,
or use bottled water. If you do not have access to bottled water you
should:
* Obtain water
from another source KNOWN to be SAFE (hauling from a water buffalo,
another municipal water supply, etc.) in a CLEAN container.
* Bring the well
water to a rolling boil for one minute. Boiling for a longer period of
time may concentrate chemicals that could be in the water.
* After flood
waters have receded and it is safe to check your well, it is important
to shock chlorinate your well with bleach. Information on the
chlorination process may be found at
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/pdf/wellsdisinfect.pdf.
* Two days after
chlorination has occurred, the water in the well needs to be tested by
a laboratory. Continue to use bottled water or a safe water supply for
drinking, cooking, laundry and bathing until a laboratory has verified
that your well water is safe to drink.
* Contact your
county environmental health office for assistance in collecting and
testing a water sample.
It is important that chlorination be performed by a professional.
Improper chlorination can result in chlorine burns, inhalation and
other health problems. In addition, a professional should check well
controllers, tanks and piping. Flooding may have damaged any or all of
these components.
The Iowa Well Water Association has more information on well water
safety at www.iwwa.org/. For more information on flood-related health
issues, visit www.idph.state.ia.us and click on "Flooding" under the
"Topics of Interest."
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