Drinking Water Emergencies

After flooding, water from private wells may not be safe to drink and can be contaminated with germs and bacteria. Watch for changes in your water’s color, smell, or taste, especially if your wellhead is in standing water. If the wellhead is submerged, DO NOT drink the water.  

If your well was flooded or you notice changes:

• Do not use the water for drinking, cooking, bathing, brushing teeth, or washing dishes. You may continue using it for flushing toilets. 
• Use bottled water or bring water to a rolling boil for at least 10 minutes.  
• After floodwaters go down, turn off power to the well pump and inspect the well for debris or damage, or hire a licensed professional to do so.
• Test your water for coliform bacteria.
• Disinfect the well after any repairs or if bacteria may have entered the system.
• Retest your well after disinfection to confirm is it safe for consumption.

Wildfires can introduce ash, debris, and chemicals into well water, and extreme heat may damage well components, making the water unsafe to drink. 

After a fire:

• Check the wellhead, casing, pipes, tank, and wiring for damage. If wiring is damaged, call a professional. Do not try to fix it yourself.
• Run a faucet inside the home to see if the water flows normally or if there are any changes.
  • If you hear air or see spurting, there may be pressure loss or damage.
  • If the water looks, smells, or tastes different, flush the lines until it clears, but do not drink the water until it has been tested.
• At a minimum, test your water for coliform bacteria. You should also consider testing for volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds if your well was damaged, has plastic parts (like PVC, HDPE, or rubber), or if there was heavy fire damage nearby.
• Disinfect the well after any repairs or if bacteria are found.  
• Retest your well after disinfection to ensure the water is safe for consumption.

Wells can lose pressure from pump failures, leaks, power outages, or pressure tank problems. When this happens, germs and bacteria can be pulled into your water system and make your water unsafe to drink.

Signs of pressure loss: 

• Faucets sputter or spit air 
• Weak or no water flow
• Gurgling sounds when running water
• Low or zero reading on the pressure gauge

If your well loses pressure, we recommend testing your water for coliform bacteria. Until you get your test results, it is safest to use bottled water or boil your water for at least 10 minutes before using it.

Extended dry periods and drought can lower the groundwater level, which may cause wells to run dry or produce less water. Signs include sputtering faucets, cloudy water, or a drop in water pressure.

If your well runs dry:

• Reduce water use as much as possible.
• Consider installing water-saving fixtures or appliances.
• Talk with a licensed well professional about options, such as lowering your pump, drilling a deeper well, or connecting to another safe water source.