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Sampling and Testing the Well Water Contact the local health department to have well water sampled and tested for contamination. Or, call your state laboratory certification officer to find a cer- tified lab near you. You can get this number from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). If the health department issues sterile bottles for the private well owner to collect water samples, fol- low all instructions for the use of these bottles. After the pump is back in operation, the health de- partment should sample and test the water at regular intervals. CONCERNS AND ADVISORIES CAUTION: Because of the extensive flood area and the speed and direction of ground water flow, your well may not be a safe source of water for many months after the flood. The well can become contaminated with bacteria or other contaminants. Waste water from malfunction- ing septic tanks or chemicals seeping into the ground can contaminate the ground water even after the water was tested and found to be safe. It will be necessary to take long range precau- tions, including repeated testing, to protect the safety of drinking water. If in doubt about the well water supply, follow health department drinking and bathing advisories. r •�'�� 1 -< - - Remember that there is a danger of electrical shock from ,�•,,�' - ti 'x any electrical device that has been flooded; consult a certi- fied electrician. Rubber boots and gloves are not adequate protection from electric shock. �,- Well disinfection will not provide protection from pesticides, heavy metals and other types of non -biological contamination. If such contamination is suspected, due to y the nearness of these contaminant sources, special treat- ment is required. Information on home water treatment units (also called point -of -use and point -of -entry units) is available from U.S. EPA by phoning the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). If you observe chemical containers (including barrels and drums) that have moved to your property, call your state or county health department or the Superfund Hotline (1-800-424-9346). For information on long-term water quality conditions in the area, consult the state or county health depart- ment. Well owners may have information about the construction, or testing of their well and this information will be helpful to the health department in determining water quality conditions. Septic systems should not be used immediately after floods. Drain fields will not work until underground water has receded. Septic lines may have broken during the flood. OFFICE OF WATER (4606 M) www.epa.gov/safewater EPA 816-F-05-021 AUGUST 2005