What is flooding?

Flooding usually occurs from storm water events that result in an accumulation of standing surface water which does not drain readily due to soil saturation and high ground water levels. How does flooding affect you?

• Flood waters should be considered contaminated due to sewage runoff and overflow from lakes and canals that carry bacteria and possible waterborne diseases such as hepatitis and cholera. The risk of contaminated water is increased in areas served by septic tank systems.
• Electricity from street lights and power poles may be active through standing water, causing a deadly shock to anyone coming into contact with it.
• Persons wading in standing water can become sick by being bitten by poisonous snakes and insects that may be forced out of their natural habitat.
• Persons wading in standing water can become injured from waters containing metal and glass fragments.

What should I do to protect my family?

Children should be advised to avoid contact with standing water (i.e., walking around or playing in it). Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after clean-up efforts, before eating and preparing food, after using the bathroom or changing a diaper. Listen for public announcements on the safety of municipal water supplies. Residents relying on private water wells are advised to use bottled water or boiled water if flooded conditions exist. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute or disinfect by adding 8 drops of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, and then let stand for 30 minutes, to kill infectious agents. After the flooding subsides, wells must be disinfected and sampled for bacteriological testing. Do not eat food that may have come in contact with flood waters. Food with screw caps, snap lids and home canned food should be discarded as well as baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, wooden cutting boards and plastic utensils.

How do I disinfect my well?

• Remove the plug or cap from the top of the well casing.
• Pour two quarts of unscented household bleach into the well and wait one hour.
• Replace plug or cap on well casing.
• Open all outlets on the system and allow water to run until the chlorine odor is noticeable.
• Allow the chlorine to remain in the system at least six hours, but preferably overnight, and then run the water from all outlets until the system is free of chlorine odor.

How do I test my well?

The only way to verify that the water is safe to drink is to have it tested. Although chlorine bleach is effective against microorganisms, it will not remove chemical contamination that may have gotten into your well. Contact the Broward County Health Department for sampling instructions to get your water tested. The health department is available to sample your well for bacteriological testing for a fee of $ 50.00 (includes State fee for laboratory cost).

For further information, contact the Broward County Health Department at (954) 467-4829.