Unfortunately, it’s hurricane season once again. It’s a cause for concern for many of us, especially for those who live in areas that are prone to flooding. If you live in an area that floods regularly and if you use a well for your household water, keep reading—this post from your trusted plumbers in Raleigh, NC, will teach you what you need to know about keeping your well water safe in the event of a flood.
How to prepare for floodwaters
As we all know, preparation is key during hurricane season in so many ways. Prepping windows and doors for fierce winds is something that we should all do, but those who have a well need to take a few extra measures:
- Install a well cap: Your well should already have a well cap on it, as these watertight caps will prevent floodwaters from entering the wellhead. If you don’t have a cap for some reason, call a professional to install one as soon as possible.
- Inspection: Now is the time to perform a comprehensive inspection of your well. A professional can check the surface seal and cap to ensure that there aren’t any cracks that’ll lead to floodwaters entering your well.
- Turn off electricity: If flooding is expected, switch off the power to your pump. Running the pump during a flood will cause a short circuit, which will lead to expensive repairs or replacement.
- Stock up: You should already be fully stocked up on bottled water during hurricane season, but it never hurts to buy a few extra cases if heavy floods are expected. A flooded well leads to contaminated water, which can’t be used for drinking or cleaning dishes.
Signs of contamination
The only good thing about having contaminated well water is that there are a couple of signs you’ll notice that indicate your water is contaminated before you drink it. Here’s what you should inspect after a flood:
- Cracks: The number one sign that your well has been compromised is cracking along the outside of the well. Even if you can’t see any cracks, it doesn’t hurt to bring in a professional for a thorough inspection.
- Sediment: Is there any sediment around your well that was brought in from the floodwater? If so, there’s a good chance that it seeped into your well water. In this scenario, switch to only drinking bottled water until your water has been inspected and is confirmed safe to drink.
- Erosion: Going along with the point above, any erosion in the ground surrounding your well is a good indicator that your well water is contaminated. Again, avoid drinking your water at all costs!
What to do if your well is flooded
Try your best to remove mud and other debris from the well casing—it’s a dirty job, but it’s step one in getting your well back to normal. You’ll want to hire an electrician to inspect the wiring for your well, and a plumber to inspect the well itself for any other signs of damage.
If your well is compromised, be sure to call the pros at Affordable Plumbing Call Us 1st, Inc. As some of the premier plumbers in Raleigh, NC, you can count on us to inspect and fix your well in a timely manner, so you can return to daily life as fast as possible.